Who is credited with originating behaviorism?

John B. Watson is credited with originating behaviorism, a significant movement in psychology. He introduced the idea that psychology should focus on observable behaviors rather than internal mental processes. Watson believed that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, and he famously conducted experiments that demonstrated how environmental factors can shape behavior, such as the Little Albert experiment, which showed that emotions can be conditioned.

His work laid the foundation for further developments in behavioral psychology, influencing other psychologists like B.F. Skinner, who expanded on Watson's ideas with concepts such as operant conditioning. However, it was Watson who first established behaviorism as a formal psychological school of thought. This distinction is vital since the origins of behaviorism are tied to Watson's emphasis on empirical methods and observable behavior, marking a shift from previous psychologies that focused on introspection and conscious experience.