Shirvindt. [Watson’s doctrine of behaviorism]

Abstract:
The author analyzes Watson’s doctrine of human behavior and his theory of instincts and emotions, his theory of thinking nature, as an example of reflexological flows. Watson’s concept considers consciousness as a type of human behavior observed by objective methods, because it is expressed in speech or gestures, i.e., is identical with certain reactions to external or internal stimuli. The author criticizes Watson’s position, that psychology almost coincides with physiology, and the difference between the two sciences is not in terms of point of view, but in a grouping of facts. Behavioralists, - the author writes, - believe that they have found the key to knowing a social man nature. The behavioral method is considered by them as a universal master key, which allows revealing not only the secret of individual behavior, but also of the whole society. It is no exaggeration to say that from the point of view of behaviorism, as well as from the point of view of reflexology, a person is a physiological automaton. All behavior and thinking are described in terms of stimuli and reactions, including motor ones. Watson’s ideas are thereby extremely unproven, mechanistic and are a brilliant example of empty verbalism; in it, thinking is indistinguishable from consciousness.