Wilhelm Wundt's method of introspection was distinct from later forms of introspection in several key ways. Wundt's introspection, often termed 'experimental introspection,' was highly controlled and systematic. It involved training subjects to provide detailed reports of their conscious experiences in response to specific stimuli under controlled laboratory conditions. This method required participants to focus on their immediate conscious experience rather than interpret or analyze these experiences. Wundt's approach was scientific and objective, aiming to break down consciousness into its basic elements. In contrast, later forms of introspection, particularly those used by psychologists in the structuralist tradition such as Edward Titchener, were less controlled and more subjective. These later forms often involved less rigorous, more personal reflection on one's thoughts and feelings, which could lead to varied and subjective interpretations. Wundt’s rigorous methodology laid the groundwork for experimental psychology, emphasizing the need for controlled conditions and reproducibility in psychological research.

John B. Watson's behaviorism faced several criticisms, particularly regarding its views on human emotions and cognition. One major criticism was its reductionist approach, which oversimplified complex human behaviors and mental processes by focusing solely on observable behavior. Critics argued that this approach ignored the internal mental states and emotions that are critical to understanding human psychology. For example, behaviorism could not adequately explain phenomena such as thoughts, dreams, or the subjective experience of emotions, which are internal and not directly observable. Another criticism was that behaviorism underestimated the role of innate or biological factors in shaping behavior. Watson's assertion that humans are shaped entirely by their environments was seen as ignoring genetic and biological predispositions. Additionally, behaviorism's emphasis on conditioning and external control raised ethical concerns about manipulating behavior, particularly in vulnerable populations like children. These criticisms led to the emergence of other psychological perspectives, such as cognitive psychology, which sought to address the limitations of behaviorism by including the study of internal mental processes.

John B. Watson's behaviorism had a profound impact on educational practices and child rearing, primarily through its emphasis on observable behavior and conditioning. Watson believed that behaviors could be shaped through conditioning – a concept he demonstrated through his experiments, such as the Little Albert study. In education, this translated to an increased focus on reinforcement and punishment as methods to modify student behavior and learning. Teachers began to use rewards and consequences more systematically to encourage desirable behaviors and discourage undesirable ones. In child rearing, Watson's ideas led to the popularity of behavior modification techniques. He famously advised treating children with a certain level of emotional detachment and advocated for the control and molding of child behavior through environmental manipulation. While some of his suggestions, such as avoiding too much emotional attachment to children, have since been criticized and revised, the core idea of influencing behavior through external stimuli has remained influential in both education and parenting strategies. Watson’s work underscored the importance of the environment in shaping behavior, a principle that continues to inform educational and developmental psychology today.

Margaret Floy Washburn's views on animal psychology were quite progressive for her time. Unlike many of her contemporaries who often disregarded animal behavior as simplistic or irrelevant to human psychology, Washburn saw great value in studying animals to understand the human mind. Her book "The Animal Mind," published in 1908, was a pioneering work in the field of comparative psychology. She argued that animal behavior and cognition could provide insights into human psychological processes. Washburn utilized introspection by analogy, a method where human introspective techniques were adapted to infer the mental processes of animals. This approach was groundbreaking, as it implied a level of cognitive complexity in animals that many at the time did not acknowledge. Her work not only expanded the scope of psychological research to include various animal species but also laid the groundwork for future studies in behaviorism and cognitive psychology. Washburn's perspective highlighted the importance of empirical evidence and careful observation in studying both human and animal minds.

Margaret Floy Washburn's motor theory was a groundbreaking concept in the early 20th century, proposing a close link between cognitive processes and physical movements. According to her theory, every mental state is accompanied by a corresponding bodily movement, however subtle it may be. This idea was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it challenged the introspective methods that were prevalent at the time, which focused predominantly on mental aspects without considering the body's role. Secondly, Washburn's theory bridged the gap between mental and physical realms, suggesting that understanding one requires understanding the other. This holistic approach influenced later theories in both psychology and neuroscience. Thirdly, her theory contributed to the foundation of behaviorism, which also emphasized observable behaviors over introspective methods. Although motor theory itself did not become a dominant view in psychology, its implications for the interconnectedness of mind and body had a lasting impact on the field.