What was John Watson's contribution to psychology?

John Watson is best known for advancing the principles of behaviorism, which involved a significant shift in psychological theory during the early 20th century. His contribution primarily revolved around the concept of observable behaviors rather than internal mental states. Watson's work built upon Ivan Pavlov's research on classical conditioning, which demonstrated that a neutral stimulus could become associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response. By expanding on Pavlov's findings, Watson emphasized that human behavior could be understood and modified through conditioning.

His focus on behavioral responses laid the groundwork for further studies and applications of behaviorism in psychology, education, and various therapeutic practices. Watson's approach marked a departure from earlier psychological theories that prioritized introspection and the examination of consciousness, offering a more empirical framework for understanding how individuals learn and react to their environments. This focus on empirical evidence and observable learning processes was revolutionary for the field and has had lasting implications in psychology and education.