Describe the major experiences that steered Watson toward behaviorism.
Watson came out with major contributions to behaviorism. Looking at his childhood, he did not have a good time. His father created huge problems for their family. He studied well and worked hard and had obtained his post graduate at the age of 21 only. Then, he faced a little problem at the time of his marriage also.
After acquiring his master’s degree, he started working at very low wages. After his mother died, he decided to continue his studies further, but faced language problems. He studied John Dewey’s philosophy. He had great influence of his professors, functionalist James Angell and physiologist Jacques Loeb.
Loeb had good work on tropism. Under their influence, Watson started his own investigative studies on developmental and learning processes. He completed his doctoral studies, focused on the physical development of the white rat.
Then, he started working as an assistant professor and simultaneously research work with scholars. Later, a job was offered to him at John Hopkins University, where he taught human psychology. He then got a chance to edit ‘Psychological Review’. Then at one stage, he tried to apply his behavioristic ideas on his colleagues but could not accomplish the same, but then at a seminar, he stated his ideas and views on behaviorism.