Foundations of the Behaviorist Approach

Although ideas of behaviorism first appeared in Edwin Lynn Thorndike’s studies of animals and his concept of the “law of effect”, Watson is recognized as the founder of behaviorism. He showed that psychology should be more objective, thus studies should be done through observation of the environment and how organisms respond to it.
From behaviorism, the ideas slowly evolved to the learning perspective. Following Watson, Skinner broadened the topic by attempting to show that feelings, which Watson disregarded, could be studied too. With more theories based on biological and cognitive studies, the ideas of behaviorism evolved to the learning perspective.
Behaviorism first appeared in America, where people were optimistic about life and situations. The Americans liked to have a sense of pride for their country and a feeling that things could be achieved. The idea of progression beyond limits was implanted in society.
The psychodynamic perspective was denounced in America. One reason to this is that the psychodynamic perspective was not satisfyingly scientific enough and could not be studied. There are no ways to study the unconsciousness in detail. On the other hand, the Behavioral perspective is logical and scientific. The science in the Behavioral perspective is it is based on observations than predictions. People enjoyed the simplicity, caused by the idea of parsimony, of the Behavioral perspective. Behaviorism, in contrast with Freud's Psychology, was much more optimistic and the Americans enjoyed its difference from Freud's Psychology.