Which approach was founded by John Watson?

John Watson is recognized for founding behaviorism, a significant paradigm in psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors rather than internal mental states. This approach emerged in the early 20th century and marked a departure from previous psychological theories that focused on introspection and the study of consciousness. Behaviorists believe that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning and can be measured and analyzed scientifically.

Watson's influential work included his famous Little Albert experiment, which demonstrated that emotional responses can be conditioned. His belief was that psychology should be a science based on observable phenomena, and he dismissed the introspective methods prevalent at the time. This laid the groundwork for future research in behavior analysis and moved psychology towards a more empirical approach. The emphasis on observable behavior remains a core principle of behaviorism today.