Who are regarded as the founders of behaviorism?

The founders of behaviorism are John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner. Watson is often credited with establishing behaviorism as a distinct psychological field in the early 20th century, emphasizing the study of observable behavior over internal mental states. He argued that psychology should focus on behaviors that can be measured and observed, and he conducted famous experiments, such as the Little Albert study, to demonstrate that emotional responses could be conditioned.

B.F. Skinner later expanded on Watson's ideas with his work on operant conditioning, which emphasized the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior. Skinner's research introduced concepts like the Skinner box and the idea that consequences influence the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Together, Watson and Skinner's contributions laid the groundwork for behaviorism, making them the central figures in the development of this psychological approach. Their emphasis on empirical methods and observable phenomena continues to influence psychology today.