Psychology from the Standpoint of a Behaviorist (Classic Reprint)

Psychology from the Standpoint of a Behaviorist offers a clear, practical look at how human actions can be studied as a scientific habit. It presents psychology as the study of behavior, observed and measured to reveal the laws that guide reactions in daily life and unusual situations alike.Watson argues that psychology should focus on observable activity and use systematic observation and experimentation. The book outlines the methods, the brain and body processes behind responses, and how habits, instincts, and emotions develop and interact to form the whole person. It emphasizes teaching readers to view the organism as a unified, working system rather than a collection of vague ideas. The basic problems and scope of psychology as a behavior-centered science How we observe, measure, and interpret reactions from receptors to muscles and glands How heredity shapes emotions, instincts, and the formation of habits The emergence and retention of language and other learned behaviorsIdeal for students and general readers who want a solid, no-nonsense introduction to behaviorist psychology and its method for understanding human action. Read more