Explain the reasons for behaviorism’s popular appeal.
Many people did not bother that few psychologists assumed to be conscious whereas others acclaimed psychology to lose its mind, or that few said that though process occurred in head and rest others chose for neck.
What agitated the public was call for a community based on controlled behavior which was shaped scientifically, free from customs, myths and behaviors which were conventional. His ideologies gave hope to masses disillusioned with older ideas.
In fervor and faith, behaviorism took over factors of religion. Among the thousands of books and articles documented about behaviorism of Watson, there was a book named, “The religion Called Behaviorism” which was read by Skinner.
Skinner documented the review for the book and mailed it to the famous literary magazine. Skinner went on to extend and refine work by Watson.
Excitement achieved by ideologies of Watson is evident in the comments of newspaper for the book Behaviorism. It was declared that it marked an era in the intellectual man’s history. It was also called as the most significant book written till date.
The hope arose from emphasis of Watson on the nourishing effect of the environment of childhood in the determination of behavior and from deprecation of the influence of tendencies which were inherited.