Functionalism

Definition

Functionalism is a perspective in psychology that emphasizes the purpose and practical applications of the mind and behavior. It focuses on how mental processes and behaviors help an individual adapt and function within their environment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Functionalism was developed as a reaction to the rigid, structural approach of structuralism, emphasizing the adaptive and practical functions of the mind.
2. Key figures in the functionalist movement include William James, John Dewey, and James Rowland Angell, who focused on the role of consciousness in guiding behavior.
3. Functionalists were interested in how mental processes, such as perception, memory, and learning, allow individuals to interact with and adapt to their environment.
4. Functionalism paved the way for the development of applied psychology, as it emphasized the practical applications of psychological research in areas like education, clinical practice, and organizational management.
5. The functionalist perspective influenced the emergence of other schools of thought, such as behaviorism and evolutionary psychology, which also emphasized the adaptive and practical aspects of human behavior.

Review Questions

• Explain how the functionalist perspective differs from the structuralist approach in psychology.
  • The functionalist perspective differs from the structuralist approach in its emphasis on the purpose and practical applications of mental processes and behavior, rather than solely focusing on breaking down the mind into its basic structural components. Functionalists were interested in how the mind and behavior help individuals adapt and function within their environment, whereas structuralists were more concerned with identifying the fundamental elements of consciousness and mental experiences.
• Describe the influence of the functionalist perspective on the development of applied psychology.
  • The functionalist perspective had a significant influence on the development of applied psychology, as it emphasized the practical applications of psychological research. Functionalists were interested in how the mind and behavior could be studied and understood in order to improve people's lives, leading to the emergence of fields such as educational psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and clinical psychology. This focus on the practical utility of psychological knowledge laid the groundwork for the applied nature of many contemporary psychological disciplines.
• Analyze the relationship between functionalism and the evolutionary perspective in psychology.
  • Functionalism and evolutionary psychology share a common emphasis on the adaptive and practical aspects of the mind and behavior. Evolutionary psychologists view the human mind as having evolved to solve specific problems and promote survival, which aligns with the functionalist focus on the purpose and practical applications of mental processes. Both perspectives recognize the importance of understanding how the mind and behavior have developed and function in order to help individuals adapt to their environment. The evolutionary perspective can be seen as a natural extension of the functionalist approach, as it provides a theoretical framework for explaining the origins and adaptive value of the mental processes and behaviors studied by functionalists.

Related terms

Structuralism: An early school of psychology that focused on breaking down mental processes into their basic structural components.

Pragmatism: A philosophical approach that emphasizes the practical applications and consequences of ideas and actions.

Evolutionary Psychology: The study of how evolutionary processes have shaped the human mind and behavior to promote survival and adaptation.