Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

John B. Watson is primarily associated with which branch of psychology?

1. Cognitive psychology

2. Gestalt psychology

3. Behaviorism

4. Humanistic psychology

The correct answer is: Behaviorism

John B. Watson is predominantly associated with behaviorism, a branch of psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors and the ways in which they are learned and reinforced. Watson argued against introspective methods typical of other psychological schools and posited that psychology should focus on external behavior rather than internal mental states. His work laid the foundation for behaviorist theories and methodologies, steering psychological research towards the examination of observable data through experimentation. This focus on behavior, along with the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, solidified behaviorism's influence in the field of psychology. In contrast, cognitive psychology investigates internal mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving. Gestalt psychology is concerned with how people interpret and perceive visual elements as unified wholes rather than mere sums of parts. Humanistic psychology emphasizes human potential, self-actualization, and the importance of subjective experience. Each of these approaches addresses different aspects of human experience and behavior but does not align with Watson's foundational work in behaviorism.