How did the functionalist school influence Watson’s behaviorism?
Functionalism was a straight antecedent of the behaviorism. Psychology of function did serve bigger objectivity as compared to its predecessors, back in Watson’s days. Cattell and few other functionalists focused objectivity and behavior and displayed dissatisfaction with contemplation.
Practiced psychologists had very less use for introspection and consciousness, and their many areas of specialty significantly constituted a psychology with objective function. Few psychologists of function were very definite to call for detached psychology, which will target on behavior rather than consciousness.
There was very much similarity between position of Watson and Cattell’s work. It was suggested that, Watson was father for behaviorism and Cattell was the grandfather. Watson’s work on behaviorism was founded formally in 1958, and the climate which was intellectual, was favored in the United States.
Therefore, approach that psychology must become the behavioral science was gaining positive concerts. Greatness of Watson was not among the initial proposal but was essentially the one which was being called for. He reacted articulately and boldly as the representative of revolution whose success and inevitability were ensured.