Wk 2 structuralism and functionalism Flashcards
What is psychology?
Psychology is a relatively young science with its experimental roots in the 19th century.
Who are the founders of psychology as a science?
Wilhelm Wundt and William James are generally credited as the founders of psychology as a science.
What is structuralism?
Structuralism is an attempt to understand the structure or characteristics of the mind, primarily associated with Wilhelm Wundt.
Who was Wilhelm Wundt?
Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920) was a German scientist and the first person to be referred to as a psychologist.
What was Wundt’s famous book?
Wundt’s famous book is entitled ‘Principles of Physiological Psychology’, published in 1873.
What method did Wundt use to study consciousness?
Wundt used introspection, a process of examining one’s own conscious experience as objectively as possible.
What were Wundt’s experimental requirements for introspection?
Wundt required trained observers and repeatable stimuli to eliminate interpretation in reporting internal experiences.
When did Wundt establish his psychology laboratory?
Wundt established his psychology laboratory at the University at Leipzig in 1879.
What was William James’s perspective on psychology?
William James espoused a perspective known as functionalism, focusing on how mental activities help an organism fit into its environment.
What is functionalism?
Functionalism is the study of the function of behavior in the world, emphasizing the operation of the whole mind rather than its individual parts.
How did James view adaptation in psychology?
James viewed adaptation as a trait that has a function for survival and reproduction, influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution.
What methods did James use in his psychological studies?
James relied on introspection, objective measures, recording devices, and examinations of concrete products of mental activities.
