Describes How Structuralism And Functionalism Influenced Contemporary Psychology

How Structuralism and Functionalism Influenced Contemporary Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. It has a long and rich history, with many different schools of thought and perspectives that have shaped its development. Two of the earliest and most influential schools of thought in psychology were structuralism and functionalism. In this article, we will explore what these schools were, how they differed, and how they influenced contemporary psychology.

What Was Structuralism?

Structuralism was the first school of thought to emerge in psychology. It was founded by Wilhelm Wundt, who is often considered to be the father of psychology. Wundt established the first experimental psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879. He believed that the mind could be broken down into its basic elements, such as sensations, feelings, and images, and that these elements could be studied scientifically using a method called introspection. Introspection involved asking trained observers to report their conscious experiences as objectively as possible. One of Wundt's students, Edward Titchener, later introduced structuralism to the United States and gave it its name. Titchener focused on identifying the structure of the mind by analyzing the elements of consciousness. He also developed a system of psychology called structural psychology, which aimed to classify and organize the elements of the mind according to their similarities and differences.

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What Was Functionalism?

Functionalism was a school of thought that emerged in response to structuralism. It was influenced by the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin, who proposed that organisms adapt to their environment through natural selection. Functionalism was founded by William James, who is often regarded as the father of American psychology. James criticized structuralism for being too static and artificial, and argued that psychology should focus on the functions and purposes of the mind rather than its structure. He also emphasized the importance of studying mental processes in relation to the environment, behavior, and experience. Other important functionalist thinkers included John Dewey, James Angell, Harvey Carr, Edward Thorndike, Mary Whiton Calkins, and Hermann Ebbinghaus. Functionalism was interested in how the mind helps people adapt to their surroundings, solve problems, make decisions, and achieve goals.

How Did Structuralism and Functionalism Differ?

Structuralism and functionalism had different goals, methods, and perspectives on psychology. Some of the main differences between them were:

Structuralism aimed to discover the structure of the mind by analyzing its basic elements. Functionalism aimed to understand the functions of the mind by examining its processes.

Structuralism used introspection as its main method of research. Functionalism used more objective methods, such as observation, experimentation, and mental tests.

Structuralism focused on the internal aspects of consciousness, such as sensations, feelings, and images. Functionalism focused on the external aspects of consciousness, such as behavior, experience, and environment.

Structuralism viewed the mind as a passive recipient of stimuli. Functionalism viewed the mind as an active agent that interacts with stimuli.

Structuralism was more influenced by European philosophy and physiology. Functionalism was more influenced by American pragmatism and evolution.

How Did Structuralism and Functionalism Influence Contemporary Psychology?

Although both structuralism and functionalism are considered obsolete today, they have left a lasting impact on contemporary psychology. Some of the ways they have influenced modern psychology are:

Structuralism contributed to the establishment of psychology as a separate science from philosophy. It also introduced experimental methods and techniques to study mental phenomena.

Functionalism expanded the scope of psychology beyond consciousness to include behavior, experience, and environment. It also paved the way for applied fields of psychology, such as educational psychology, industrial psychology, and clinical psychology.

Both structuralism and functionalism inspired later schools of thought in psychology, such as behaviorism, gestalt psychology, cognitive psychology, humanistic psychology, and evolutionary psychology.

Both structuralism and functionalism highlighted the complexity and diversity of human mind and behavior. They also raised important questions and challenges for psychological research.

In conclusion, structuralism and functionalism were two of the earliest and most influential schools of thought in psychology. They had different goals, methods, and perspectives, but they also shared some common interests and ideas. They both made significant contributions to the development of modern psychology and influenced its current theories and practices.

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