Chapter 11: American Psychology and Functionalism Flashcards
Stages of early American Psychology
Stage One: Moral and Mental Philosophy (1640-1776)
Stage Two: Intellectual Philosophy (1776-1886)
Stage Three: The U.S. Renaissance (1886-1896)
Stage Four: U.S. Functionalism (1896 and Beyond)
Stage One: Moral and Mental Philosophy (1640-1776)
Psychology was integrated with religious indoctrination, heavily influenced by British universities.
American Enlightenment started in 1714 with the widespread
Stage Two: Intellectual Philosophy (1776-1886)
Psychology emerged as a separate discipline influenced by Scottish common sense philosophy.
Notable figures such as Thomas Reid contributed to the acceptance of sensory information and self-examination.
Stage Three: The U.S. Renaissance (1886-1896)
Marked by a shift towards individual differences, adaptation to the environment, and practicality, aligning with evolutionary theories.
Saw the rise of various practices like physiognomy, phrenology, mesmerism, and spiritualism.
Stage Four: U.S. Functionalism (1896 and Beyond)
Represented the convergence of science, practicality, individualism, and evolutionary theory in functionalism, characterized by the work of John Dewey and Edward Titchener.
Eight Characteristics of functionalist psychology
Opposed structuralism and emphasized understanding the function of the mind rather than just its static contents.
Focused on the practical application of psychological findings in various domains of life.
Advocated for a broadened scope of psychology, including research on animals, children, and individuals with psychological disorders.
Utilized an eclectic methodology ranging from mazes to mental tests.
Emphasized the importance of understanding motivation and how it drives behavior.
Recognized both mental processes and behavior as valid subjects of study.
Displayed a greater interest in the uniqueness of individuals rather than their commonalities.
Directly or indirectly influenced by the ideas of William James.
James Rowland Angell
A prominent psychologist known for his significant contributions to functional psychology, with a focus on animal behavior and mental processes. He emphasized the importance of behavior as a means to understand psychological phenomena. He was instrumental in advancing the comparative study of psychology and the exploration of mental processes in animals
James Mark Baldwin
Noted for his work in social and child psychology, Baldwin contributed to the understanding of child cognitive development, which later influenced the work of Jean Piaget. He also proposed the Baldwin Effect, which postulated a connection between learning and evolution, although it remains a controversial concept
Mary Whiton Calkins
A distinguished psychologist recognized for her work on self-psychology and the paired-associate technique. Calkins was the first woman to become president of the American Psychological Association (APA) and contributed significantly to the early development of psychology as a discipline
Harvey Carr
Known for his work in the field of animal psychology, Carr contributed to the understanding of animal behavior and learning processes. He played a role in the development of behaviorism, emphasizing the importance of objective observation and measurement in psychological research
James McKeen Cattell
A renowned psychologist recognized for his significant contributions to applied psychology and mental testing. Cattell was influential in the establishment of psychological testing as a fundamental tool for measuring intelligence and cognitive abilities
Kenneth Bancroft Clark
Noted for his groundbreaking research on racial segregation and the psychological effects of discrimination, Clark was instrumental in shaping the understanding of the impact of racial prejudice on children’s self-perception and identity development
John Dewey
A prominent philosopher and psychologist, Dewey was a key figure in the development of functional psychology and instrumental in the advancement of progressive education. He emphasized the importance of experiential learning and the practical application of knowledge
Granville Stanley Hall
Known as the father of the child study movement, Hall made significant contributions to developmental psychology and the understanding of child behavior. He established the first psychology research laboratory in the United States and played a crucial role in the early development of psychology as a scientific discipline
William James
A highly influential philosopher and psychologist, James is recognized for his contributions to the field of functionalism and his emphasis on the pragmatic aspects of psychology. He laid the groundwork for the study of consciousness and the relationship between the mind and body
Conwy Lloyd Morgan
Known for his work in comparative psychology, Morgan introduced the principle known as Morgan’s canon, which cautioned against anthropomorphizing animal behavior. He played a significant role in establishing a more objective approach to the study of animal intelligence
Hugo Münsterberg
Noted for his contributions to applied psychology and the development of forensic psychology, Münsterberg emphasized the practical applications of psychological principles in various real-world contexts, including industry, law, and education
Francis Cecil Sumner
Recognized as the first African American to earn a PhD in psychology, Sumner made significant contributions to the understanding of race and culture in psychology. He played a pivotal role in advocating for the inclusion of diverse perspectives in psychological research and education
Edward Lee Thorndike
Known for his pioneering work in the field of animal learning and behavior, Thorndike developed the puzzle box as an experimental tool to study trial-and-error learning. His research laid the foundation for the principles of connectionism and the laws of exercise and effect in learning theory
Margaret Floy Washburn
A prominent psychologist known for her work in comparative psychology and animal behavior, Washburn was the first woman to receive a PhD in psychology. She made significant contributions to the understanding of consciousness in animals and the role of behavior in psychological research
Robert Sessions Woodworth
Noted for his work in dynamic psychology, Woodworth emphasized the importance of understanding the dynamic interactions between the individual and the environment. He contributed to the development of the field of psychodynamics and played a crucial role in advancing the understanding of human behavior and motivation
Adaptive set (Carr)
Carr’s term for a unit of behavior with three characteristics: a need, an environmental setting, and a response that satisfies the need
Connectionism
The term often used to describe Thorndike’s theory of learning because of its concern with the neural bonds or connections that associate sense impressions and impulses to action
Dynamic psychology
The brand of psychology suggested by Woodworth that stressed the internal variables that motivate organisms to act
Empirical self
According to James, the self that consists of everything a person can call his or her own. The empirical self consists of the material self (all of one’s material possessions), the social self (one’s self as known by others), and the spiritual self (all of which a person is conscious)
Forensic psychology
The application of psychological principles to legal matters. Münsterberg is considered the first forensic psychologist
Functionalism
Under the influence of Darwin, the school of functionalism stressed the role of consciousness and behavior in adapting to the environment
Habits
Those learned patterns of behavior that James and others believed were vital for the functioning of society
Identical elements theory of transfer
Thorndike’s contention that the extent to which learning transfers from one situation to another is determined by the similarity between the two situations
Ideo-motor theory of behaviour
According to James, ideas cause behavior, and thus we can control our behavior by controlling our ideas
James-Lange theory of emotion
The theory that people first respond and then have an emotional experience. For example, we run first, and then we are frightened. An implication of the theory is that we should act according to the way we want to feel
Law of disuse
Part of Thorndike’s learning theory, emphasizes the idea that if a learned behavior or knowledge is not reinforced or practiced over time, it is more likely to fade away or be forgotten
Law of effect
Thorndike’s contention that reward strengthens associations, whereas punishment weakens them. Later, Thorndike revised the law to state that reward strengthens associations, but punishment has no effect on them
Law of exercise
Thorndike’s contention that the strength of an association varied with the frequency of the association’s use. Thorndike discarded this law in 1929
Law of use
Part of Thorndike’s learning theory, it suggests that the more frequently an association or learned behavior is exercised or practiced, the stronger it becomes. This concept is in line with the idea of learning through repetition, indicating that consistent use or application of knowledge or skills leads to their reinforcement and enhancement
Morgan’s canon
The insistence that explanations of animal behavior be kept as simple as possible. One should never attribute higher mental activities to an animal if lower mental activities are adequate to explain its behavior
Paired-associate technique
The still widely used method of investigating verbal learning invented by Calkins. Pairs of stimulus material are first presented to subjects and then, after several exposures, only one member of the pair is presented and the subject is asked to recall the second
Pragmatism
The belief that usefulness is the best criterion for determining the validity of an idea
Recapitulation theory
Hall’s contention that all stages of human evolution are reflected in the life of an individual
Reciprocal antagonism
Münsterberg’s method of treating mentally disturbed individuals, whereby he would strengthen thoughts antagonistic to those causing a problem
Radical empiricism
The philosophical perspective by William James, emphasizes the significance of experience as the foundation of all knowledge and asserts that reality can only be understood through direct, empirical experience. James proposed that our understanding of the world is shaped by our personal experiences and perceptions, and that concepts and ideas are derived from the direct experiences of individuals
Stream of consciousness
Term for the way James thought the mind worked. James described the mind as consisting of an ever-changing stream of interrelated, purposive thoughts rather than static elements that could be isolated from one another, as the structuralists had suggested
