Psy 551  Learning Theory
Handout on Watson

Watson was a central figure in American psychology generally, and in the
launching of classical S-R behaviorism specifically.  He can be
distinguished as much by what he was against as by what he was for.  This
list, set up in contrasting pairs where possible, is intended to give some
flavor of his position.

Against                            For

Introspection                      Observation, conditioning,
                                   testing, verbal report

Consciousness                      S-R reflex model of behavior

Subjective                         Objective, empirical, observable

Centralism                         Peripheralism

Dualism                            Monism

Religion; free-will                Science; determinism

Molarism                           Molecular, mechanistic,
                                   associationistic

Static                             Dynamic, developmental

Large numbers of instincts;        Small number (3) of instincts 
nature > nurture                   (fear, love, rage); extreme
                                   environmentalism; nurture > nature

Human behavior qualitatively       Human behavior not qualitatively
different from animals             different from animals (except
                                   for language)

Thinking as mental process         Thinking as sub-vocal speech

Emotion as mental process          Emotion as response of peripheral
                                   organs (e.g., lust as tingling in
                                   the genitals)

                                   Planned society based on
                                   behaviorist principles, especially
                                   concerning child-rearing and
                                   marriage