John B. Watson

John B. Watson was an American psychologist who founded the field of behaviorism, which focuses on observable behaviors rather than internal thoughts or feelings. He believed that psychology should be the study of how people respond to their environment, emphasizing that all behaviors are learned through interactions with the world. Watson argued that by controlling environmental factors, behaviors could be shaped and modified. His famous "Little Albert" experiment demonstrated how emotions could be conditioned, showing that fear responses could be learned. Watson's work laid the foundation for modern psychological practices, emphasizing empirical research and scientific methods.