Functionalism as a classical school of psychology introduction
Functionalism is a classical school of psychology that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in response to the limitations of the structuralist approach. While structuralism focused on the basic components of mental processes, functionalism emphasized the functions and purposes of those processes.
The origins of functionalism can be traced back to the work of American philosopher and psychologist William James, who believed that the mind should be studied in terms of its adaptive functions and practical applications. James argued that mental processes are constantly changing and adapting to meet the demands of the environment, and that understanding these processes required a focus on their purpose and function rather than their structure.
Functionalism also drew on the work of other early psychologists, including John Dewey and G. Stanley Hall, who emphasized the importance of studying mental processes in the context of real-world situations and experiences. They believed that mental processes were shaped by the environment and that understanding this interaction between the individual and the environment was crucial to understanding human behavior and experience.
History of Functionalism
Functionalism emerged as a school of psychology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily in the United States. It was a response to the limitations of structuralism, which focused on analyzing the basic components of mental processes without considering their function or purpose. The functionalist approach emphasized the adaptive functions and practical applications of mental processes in real-world situations.
The origins of functionalism can be traced back to the work of William James, an American philosopher and psychologist. In his influential book, “The Principles of Psychology,” James argued that mental processes were constantly changing and adapting to meet the demands of the environment, and that understanding these processes required a focus on their purpose and function rather than their structure.
Another important figure in the development of functionalism was John Dewey, who emphasized the importance of studying mental processes in the context of real-world situations and experiences. Dewey argued that mental processes were shaped by the environment and that understanding this interaction between the individual and the environment was crucial to understanding human behavior and experience.
G. Stanley Hall, another early psychologist, also contributed to the development of functionalism. Hall was interested in the ways that mental processes develop and change over time, and he believed that studying these changes was essential for understanding human behavior.
Functionalism was also influenced by the work of Charles Darwin, whose theory of evolution emphasized the importance of adaptation to changing environments. Functionalists saw mental processes as adaptive responses to environmental demands, and they believed that understanding these processes required a focus on their functions and purposes.
Functionalism had a significant impact on the development of modern psychology, particularly in the areas of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Its emphasis on the adaptive functions of mental processes helped pave the way for a more practical and applied approach to psychology, and its focus on the interaction between the individual and the environment remains an important area of research today.
Functionalism as a system
Functionalism is actually not a part of the classical school of psychology, but rather a school of thought that emerged later as a response to the limitations of the structuralist approach.
Classical psychology, also known as structuralism, was developed in the late 19th century by psychologists such as Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener. It focused on the analysis of conscious experience into its basic elements, such as sensations, perceptions, and feelings. Structuralists believed that by breaking down conscious experience into its constituent parts, they could gain a better understanding of the mind.
Functionalism emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century as a reaction to the limitations of structuralism. Functionalists, such as William James and John Dewey, shifted the focus from the analysis of the elements of consciousness to the study of how mental processes and behaviors function in the context of the individual’s environment. They believed that behavior and mental processes served a purpose or function in adapting to the environment and achieving goals.
Functionalism emphasized the importance of studying the whole organism in its environment, rather than focusing on isolated elements of consciousness. This approach led to the development of new areas of study, such as educational psychology, social psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology. Functionalism also played a role in the development of behaviorism, which emphasized the study of observable behavior rather than mental processes.
Harvey carr's Definition of psychology in Functionalism
Harvey Carr was an American psychologist and functionalist who played a significant role in shaping the early development of the functionalist school of thought. According to Carr, psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes as they relate to the environment.
In Carr’s view, psychology should be concerned with the adaptive functions of behavior and the ways in which mental processes enable individuals to adapt to their environment. He believed that mental processes should be studied in their natural context, rather than being isolated and studied in the laboratory. Carr argued that the ultimate goal of psychology was to understand how individuals could use their mental processes and behavior to achieve their goals and adapt to their environment.
Carr also emphasized the importance of individual differences in behavior and mental processes. He believed that studying these differences could provide insight into the functions of behavior and mental processes and help individuals adapt to different situations and environments.
Subject matter of psychology in Functionalism
In functionalism, the subject matter of psychology was seen as the study of how mental processes help organisms adapt to their environment. Functionalists believed that psychology should focus on the practical applications of mental processes, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and perception, rather than on their underlying structures.
Functionalists believed that consciousness is not a static entity, but rather a dynamic process that is continually adapting to changes in the environment. They also emphasized the importance of studying behavior in real-life situations, rather than in laboratory settings.
Therefore, the subject matter of psychology in functionalism included the study of perception, learning, memory, problem-solving, decision-making, emotion, motivation, and other mental processes that help organisms adapt to their environment. The functionalists were interested in how these processes worked and how they could be applied to improve human life.
Harvey Carr's adaptive behaviour
- Carr’s most significant contribution to psychology was his theory of adaptation behavior.
According to Carr, adaptive behavior is the behavior that an organism exhibits in response to changes in its environment. This behavior is shaped by both genetic and environmental factors and is designed to help the organism cope with the demands of the environment.
Carr believed that adaptive behavior could be studied through the observation of an organism’s behavior in a natural environment. He argued that laboratory studies were limited in their ability to capture the complexity of real-world behavior and that a more naturalistic approach was needed to fully understand adaptation behavior.
Harvey described 3 adaptive behaviour :-
1.Adaptive behaviour consist a motivative stimulus.
2.Adaptive behaviour include sensory stimulus.
3.Adaptive behaviour change the situation in such a way that there is a satisfaction towards motivating stimulus.
for example:- If a hungry person eats in any hotel then her/his this behaviour is called “adaptive behaviour” . In this example hunger is motivating stimulus and eating food is adaptive stimulus.
Harvey carr divides adaptive behaviour inn two parts :-
- In first part person do attentive adjustment in which desire motor behavior and appropriate sensory adjustment are present.
- In second part , after reaching the goal there is abehavior of consumer act.
Postulates of functionalism
The postulates, or basic principles, of functionalism in psychology include:
Emphasis on the practical function of mental processes: Functionalists believed that mental processes were adaptive and served a purpose in helping individuals adapt to their environment. They focused on studying how mental processes helped individuals achieve their goals and solve problems in the real world.
Holistic approach to understanding behavior: Functionalists believed that behavior could not be understood by studying individual elements in isolation, but rather needed to be understood in the context of the individual’s environment and experiences.
Importance of individual differences: Functionalists recognized that individuals differ in their mental abilities, personalities, and behaviors. They believed that these differences were shaped by an individual’s unique experiences and environment, and that understanding these differences was important in understanding human behavior.
Emphasis on empirical research: Functionalists believed that psychological research should be based on empirical observation and experimentation. They used a variety of methods, including introspection, laboratory experiments, and field studies, to study mental processes and behavior.
Practical applications: Functionalists believed that psychology should have practical applications and be used to solve real-world problems. They were interested in applying psychological principles to education, industry, and other fields.
Methodology
The methodology used by functionalists in their research can be summarized as follows:
Empirical observation: Functionalists believed that psychological research should be based on empirical observation, rather than on introspection or theoretical speculation. They used a variety of methods to gather data, including laboratory experiments, naturalistic observation, and case studies.
Functional analysis: Functionalists sought to understand how mental processes and behavior served a practical function in helping individuals adapt to their environment. They analyzed the functions of mental processes, such as perception, memory, and emotion, and sought to understand how they helped individuals achieve their goals.
Holistic approach: Functionalists believed that behavior could not be understood by studying individual elements in isolation, but rather needed to be understood in the context of the individual’s environment and experiences. They sought to understand the entire person, including their mental processes, behavior, and environment.
Individual differences: Functionalists recognized that individuals differ in their mental abilities, personalities, and behaviors. They believed that these differences were shaped by an individual’s unique experiences and environment, and that understanding these differences was important in understanding human behavior.
Application of findings: Functionalists believed that psychology should have practical applications and be used to solve real-world problems. They were interested in applying psychological principles to education, industry, and other fields
Mind body problem
Harvey believed that the mind and body were not separate entities, but rather two aspects of the same functional system. He argued that mental processes and behavior are closely connected to physiological processes in the body, and that they cannot be understood in isolation from each other.
According to Harvey, mental processes and behavior have a practical function in helping individuals adapt to their environment, and they are closely connected to physiological processes in the body that support these functions. He believed that the mind and body work together in a coordinated way to achieve these functions, and that they cannot be separated from each other.
Thus, in Harvey’s functionalism, the mind-body problem is not a problem at all, but rather a false dichotomy. He believed that mental processes and behavior are not separate from physiological processes in the body, but rather they are two aspects of the same functional system that work together to support adaptation to the environment.
Principle of connection
Functionalists believed that the mind and behavior should be studied in terms of their adaptive functions, or the ways in which they help individuals to adapt to their environment and achieve their goals. They believed that mental processes were not fixed or innate, but instead were shaped by experience and learning.
According to the principle of connectionism, mental processes and behaviors are shaped by the connections or associations that exist between different stimuli and responses. These connections are formed through experience and learning, as individuals come to associate certain stimuli with certain responses.
For example, a child may learn to associate the sound of a bell with the start of class, or the sight of a red light with the need to stop a car. These associations become automatic and habitual, shaping the child’s mental processes and behavior in response to certain stimuli.
Principle of selection
Harvey Carr was a functionalist psychologist who developed the principle of selection, which is one of the key principles of functionalism in psychology. According to this principle, mental processes and behaviors are shaped by the selection of certain stimuli and responses over others.
Carr believed that individuals have the ability to selectively attend to certain stimuli in their environment, while ignoring others. This process of selection is influenced by a number of factors, including an individual’s goals, expectations, and past experiences.
For example, if an individual is trying to study in a noisy environment, they may selectively attend to the information they are trying to learn, while ignoring the distracting noise. This process of selection is guided by the individual’s goal of learning and their expectation that they can overcome the distraction.
Carr also emphasized the role of learning in shaping the process of selection. As individuals gain experience, they learn which stimuli are most important or relevant to their goals, and they become better able to selectively attend to these stimuli.
Criticisim of functionalism
Functionalism, an early school of thought in psychology, has received several criticisms over the years. Some of the main criticisms of functionalism are:
Lack of scientific accuracy: Functionalism was criticized for its lack of scientific rigor and empirical evidence. Functionalists focused on the study of mental processes and behaviors in terms of their adaptive functions, rather than conducting rigorous scientific experiments to test their hypotheses.
Over-reliance on introspection: Functionalists relied heavily on introspection as a method for studying mental processes, which involves individuals reporting on their own thoughts and experiences. However, this method is subjective and difficult to replicate, leading to questions about the reliability and validity of the data obtained.
Neglect of individual differences: Functionalists focused on understanding the general principles of mental processes and behaviors, often neglecting individual differences and unique experiences. This limited their ability to explain why individuals may respond differently to the same stimuli or situations.
Limited focus on the unconscious mind: Functionalism was criticized for its limited focus on the role of the unconscious mind in shaping behavior and mental processes. This neglect of the unconscious mind limited their ability to fully explain human behavior.
Lack of attention to social and cultural factors: Functionalism tended to overlook the impact of social and cultural factors on human behavior, instead focusing on the individual and their adaptation to their environment.
