Final answer:
John B. Watson criticized introspection due to its subjectivity and lack of scientific reliability, prompting him to advocate for behaviorism, which focused on observable behavior over mental states. Functionalism also faced criticism for ignoring historical contexts in societal development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Watson Criticized Introspective Methods
John B. Watson criticized the introspective methods of structuralists and functionalists because he believed objective analysis of the mind was inherently flawed. Structuralists like Wundt focused on breaking down mental processes into their component parts through introspection, a process which was subjective and varied between individuals. Similarly, the functionalists, including scholars like William James, viewed mental activities in the context of an organism's fit within its environment but still employed introspection alongside more objective measures. Watson argued that such subjective methods could not provide a reliable and scientific understanding of human behavior, thus advocating for a shift towards behaviorism, which emphasized the study of observable and controllable behavior.
Furthermore, functionalism was criticized for its failure to incorporate the historical context of societies, like the impact of colonialism on seemingly isolated populations. This lack of historical perspective was seen as a limitation in understanding the complexity of societal development and global inequalities.