Final answer:
Watson and Skinner, foundational figures in behaviorism, advocated for psychology to be considered a science. They focused on objective study of observable behavior rather than subjective mental processes. Their work significantly influenced the trajectory and methodology of modern psychology.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Watson and B.F. Skinner were prominent figures in the field of psychology, specifically in the school of thought known as behaviorism. Watson, often considered the father of behaviorism, and Skinner, known for his work in operant conditioning, both argued that the study of human behavior should be a science. They believed that psychology should emphasize the observation and control of behavior, making it an objective science, rather than focusing on the unobservable processes of the mind.
Watson and Skinner dedicated a lot of time and energy to this approach, which later became fundamental to behaviorism. This was in contrast to earlier psychological approaches, which were more rooted in philosophy and subjective understanding of the conscious experience. Watson and Skinner's dedication set the stage for behaviorism to influence not only psychology but also other areas of social sciences, which aimed to discern facts and rules about human behavior with certainty comparable to that in natural sciences.