He is known as the father of behaviorism thanks to his role in spearheading this subfield in psychology. Watson was married twice and fathered two children during each marriage. His second marriage was to his assistant, with whom he had an extramarital affair during his employment at Johns Hopkins.

James Dewey Watson (born April 6, 1928) is an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist. In 1953, he co-authored with Francis Crick the academic paper proposing the double helix structure of the DNA molecule.

Founded by John B. Watson in the early 20th century, behaviorism emphasizes the importance of understanding the influence of the environment on individuals' actions. This approach rejects the notion of analyzing emotions, thoughts, or consciousness, instead focusing solely on what can be directly observed and measured.

Learning is a process of conditioning: Watson's theory of behaviorism posits that all behavior is learned through a process of conditioning. This process involves the formation of associations between stimuli and responses, which are reinforced or punished depending on their consequences.