Functionalism Flashcards
represents the first truly unique American psychology. As it evolved from Darwin, Galton, James, Hall and Cattell, its definition was:
.. ‘ The study of behavior as it functions in adapting the organism to the environment’.
This broad definition was inclusive of the many different approached to psychology from cognition to behaviorism and pure experimental through applied.
Functionalism
It represented a direct and effective attack on the narrowness of strict (Titchenerian) structuralism.
With no particular clear leader to narrow the movement, it went from a school of thought to absorption into (or the definition of) contemporary mainstream American Psychology.
Functionalism
Born 02/11/1809
Same birthday as Abraham Lincoln.
Grandson of Erasmus Darwin, and son of a wealthy physician.
Studied theology at Cambridge.
Charles Darwin
became interested in zoology and Lyell’s theory of geologic evolution.
Lyell’s theory of uniformitarianism held that the earths major features evolved slowly over eons rather than via rapid changes (eg., volcanism).
He also read Thomas Malthus (1789) Essay on the Principle of Population while on the Beagle voyage.
Charles Darwin
While in the Galàpagos islands, his observations on the isolation of sea turtles to the particular islands started his thinking about animal evolution.
He had already apprehended the theory of selective breeding of the best animals and plants by humans.
Combining Lyell and Malthus, he now extended that to nature making the selection by over breeding, overpopulation, and survival of the fittest.
Charles Darwin
Illness, some suggest psychosomatic (science religion conflict), contributed to the delay of the publication of his work.
His work, verified to have preceded that of Alfred Wallace by 15-years won him credit for the discovery
Charles Darwin
Origin of the species (1859) drew heavily on the Malthusian concern for population control.
Malthus had argued that population was growing geometrically while food supplied were growing arithmetically, predicting that only the most cunning would survive the inevitable competition for dwindling food supplies.
The actual data for the book were based on 22 years of research on the richness and variety of life gleaned from voyages like the Beagle.
Charles Darwin
The variety of life implied the importance rather than trivialization of individual differences.
Origin of the Species established a continuity between humans and non-human, and rational, irrational and instinctive behavior, producing a major impact on comparative psychology and psychoanalysis and psychology as a whole.
Charles Darwin
fully develops the physical and psychological continuity of humans as descended from other animals.
Charles Darwin - Descent of Man
had suggested two principles of evolution:
Development toward perfection with increasing complexity. (refinement)
Anomalies (mutations) reflect environmental interference. (adaptation)
Lamarck
illustrated an evolutionary linkage to the emotions to parallel the rational and physical similarities..
Darwin’s (1872) Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals
Darwin’s theory generated great debate and ridicule as this turn of the century (20th) cartoon caricature of Darwin illustrates.
Darwinian Controversy
Non-traditional/self educated.
Interested in Lyell’s theory of geologic evolution.
Major contributor to psychology and evolutionary theory
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
His first book, Principles of Psychology (1855) proposed evolutionary principles much like Darwin’s but had little impact because of his lack of academic reputation.
Darwin’s Origin of the Species (1859) increased his stature as well.
He revised Principles of Psychology with an emphasis on philosophy of science, published as a 10 volume series The System of Synthetic Philosophy, 2 volumes of which (1870, 1872) dealt with psychology.
Herbert Spencer
The Spencer -Bain Principle
Voluntary behavior follows the pleasure principle.
Frequently made associations are passed on to future generations (Lamarckian)
“simple creatures respond in simple undifferentiated ways”…. (reflexively).
“Instinct is a compound reflex action”….
“Memory and cognition arise from instincts”….
Principles
There are that are true for all phenomena not just one class.
Eg., the Law of Evolution:
A process by which a system moved from” an indefinite, incoherent homogeneity to a definite, coherent heterogeneity.
This applies to the universe, solar system organisms, and cultures,
First Principles
is a first principle that extends to: The fittest geological structure The fittest organic life The fittest culture The fittest institution The fittest behavior Evolution proceeds from the simple to the complex with a purpose. Consider the child’s path to adulthood.
Survival of the fittest
“ if the doctrine of evolution is true, the inevitable implication is that Mind can be understood only by observing how the Mind evolved. If creatures of the most elevated kinds have reached those highly integrated, very definite, and extremely heterogeneous organizations they possess, through modifications upon modifications accumulated through an immeasurable past– if the developed nervous systems of such creatures have gained their complex structures and functions little by little:then necessarily, the involved forms of consciousness which are correlatives of these complex structures and functions must have arisen by degrees. And it is impossible truly to comprehend the organization of the body in general or the nervous system in particular without tracing its successive stages of complication; so it must be impossible to comprehend mental organization without similarly tracing its stages.” (Spencer , 1855, pp181-182)
Consider the impact of this quote
Progress (social evolution) can inevitably lead to good and bad ends
Social Darwinism
a process by which cultures regulate by balancing forces….to where …”an equilibrium exists between man’s nature and the conditions of his existence”.
Eg., The law of supply and demand.
Equilibration
Spencer, 1880, on an equilibrated society
“…the individual has no desires but those that may be satisfied without exceeding his proper sphere of action, while society maintains no restraints but those which the individual voluntarily respects. The progressive extension of liberty of citizens and the reciprocal removal of political restrictions are the steps by which we advance to this state”……if unimpeded, evolving naturally to a society ….”of the greatest perfection and complete happiness”.
Thus the evolutionary process will work best if the state does not interfere.
Those who struggle successfully should survive.
Those who are not successful should not survive.
The state must not interfere with this natural order or evolutions progress to perfection will be thwarted.
Spencer
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnagie and J.D. Rockefeller were strong supporters of social Darwinism with their “rugged individualism.
“ The Socialist or Anarchist who seeks to overturn the present conditions is to be regarded as attacking the foundations on which civilization itself rests, for civilization took its start the from the day when the capable, industrious workman said to his incompetent, lazy fellow if thou dost not sow, thou shalt not reap, and thus ended primitive communism by separating the drones from the bees”. (Carnegie, 1900)
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