Fuller - 1986 - Excising the psyche American behaviorism

What was Joseph Jastrow's view on the concept of the unconscious?

Jastrow believed that the unconscious was merely a term for physiological activities of which we are not directly aware, and he aimed to strip it of its metaphysical connotations.

What did John Broadus Watson argue in 'Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It'?

Watson argued that psychology must discard all references to consciousness, claiming that the past methods of introspection had led psychology into metaphysical issues and that behaviorism is the only consistent functionalism.

How did the behaviorist movement affect the study of psychology during the early 20th century?

The behaviorist movement emphasized external observation and objectivist language, leading to the exclusion of introspective techniques and the rejection of mentalistic terminology.

What did B.F. Skinner believe about behavior and choice?

Skinner believed that individual behavior is determined by its consequences, and he viewed the idea of human freedom and self-determination as misguided.

What cultural impact did behaviorism have according to critics?

Critics argue that behaviorism reduced human personality to an empty reflexive organism, stripping culture of deeper aesthetic and spiritual dimensions.

How did William James differ from behaviorists regarding the role of consciousness?

James viewed consciousness as not just reflexive but as a complex, active participant in shaping human experience through instincts and inner resources.

What did critics argue was a significant consequence of behaviorism's rejection of consciousness?

Critics maintained that behaviorism's denial of psychic depth left individuals without guidance in understanding moral and existential questions, leading to a meaningless existence.

What was the key proposal by K.S. Lashley regarding behaviorism?

Lashley argued that characteristics assigned to consciousness could be explained through physical reflex mechanisms, thus supporting behaviorism's rejection of 'inner' psychological processes.