THEORIES

OF DEVELOPMENT
JOHN WATSON’S
THEORY OF
BEHAVIORISM
 JOHN WATSON
❑1879 to 1958
❑Raised in South Carolina
❑was an American psychologist
who is considered the father of the
psychological school of behaviorism
 BEHAVIORISM

• Focuses on observable performance, behaviors &

external influences that can bring about
behavioral change

• Behavior can be changed by a system of rewards

& punishments
KEY NOTES
Behaviorism was the science of observable behavior.
Only behavior that could be observed, recorded and
measured was of any real value for the study of
humans or animals

He believed that you can expose the child to certain

environmental forces and, over time, condition that
child to become any type of person you want.
 NURSING IMPLICATIONS
❑ Behavioral techniques are used to
alter behavior or to teach skills to
handicapped children.
❑ Positive reinforcement encourage
positive behaviors.
❑ Parents often use reinforcement in
toilet training and other skills learned
in childhood