Watson at Johns Hopkins

Watson at Johns Hopkins In 1908, Watson took a position as professor and director of the psychological laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. James Mark Baldwin left the psychology department faculty unexpectedly soon after Watson's arrival, and Watson was given great responsibility for a man of his age.

During his 14 years at Hopkins, Watson was very successful. His article, "Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It," published in the Psychological Review in 1913, is considered a landmark in the founding of behaviorism. Watson edited the Psychological Review and served as the founding editor of the Journal of Experimental Psychology. Watson was also the president of the American Psychological Association in 1915.

Watson's career in academic psychology was cut short by an affair with one of his research assistants, Rosalie Rayner, and subsequent divorce from Mary Ickes. Watson married Rayner soon after the divorce, and the much publicized scandal led administrative officials at Hopkins to ask for Watson's resignation.
This is a picture of Watson and Rayner at the Longshore Yacht Club in Westport, Connecticut.

John B. Watson Childhood At Furman At Chicago At Johns Hopkins Career in Advertising On the Farm Watson Remembered Additional Resources Return to Furman psychology department