History of Psychology Unit 4: Structuralism v. Functionalism Instructor: Sara Barnett

Warm-Up Discussion ► Psych-related Statements - Fact or Fiction? 1. Let your anger out, you’ll feel better. 2. Just believe in yourself and you’ll succeed; in America, everyone has equal opportunity 3. Cult members are stupid followers 4. Lie detectors prove if someone is lying

Agenda ► Announcements ► Overview of Structuralism ► Overview of Functionalism ► Women in Psychology ► Questions, Comments, Reflections

Announcements ► Unit 4 Project due - Topic: Philosophy and Physiology as the foundations for modern psychology - Tasks: Discuss the contributions of one (1) major philosopher and one (1) major physiologists important to the history of modern psychology - Reminder: Follow assignment guidelines; Reference the text when necessary; Use APA Format!

Structuralism ► ► Edward Bradford Titchener (1867–1927) - - English born experimental psychologist/physiologist (described as German – like) - - Disciple of Wundt (i.e., adopted practice of “introspection” though interested in individual components, not apperception - - Taught at Cornell University in New York - - Studied various topics – from sexual behavior to physical reactions to chemicals - - Did not allow women in his study groups

Structuralism - Tichener was k nown for the belief that the conscious experience is completely dependent on the person who experiences it: “All human knowledge is derived from human experience; there is no other source of knowledge. But human experience, as we have seen, may be considered from different points of view.“

Structuralism ► How does the field of cultural psychology incorporate Tichener’s view on individual experience and perspective?

Structuralism ► ► Titchener posed three essential problems for psychology: 1. to reduce conscious processes to their simplest components, 2. to determine laws by which these elements of consciousness were associated, and 3. to connect the elements with their physiological conditions.

Structuralism ► What do you think about this approach to the study of the mind?

Structuralism ► What are some criticisms of structuralism?

Functionalism ► ► Functionalism is concerned with how the mind functions, or how it is used by an organism to adapt to its environment. The functional psychology movement focused on a practical question: What do mental processes accomplish? Functionalists studied the mind not from the standpoint of its composition—its mental elements or its structure—but rather as a conglomerate or accumulation of functions and processes that lead to practical consequences in the real world.

Chapter 7: Darwin ► Charles Darwin ( ) - English doctor turned naturalist - Conducted extensive research on the Galapagos Islands off coast of Ecuador (Darwin’s finches) - Argued that all species descend from a common ancestor = Theory of Evolution - Survival of the fittest - Natural selection

Chapter 7: Herbert Spencer ► Herbert Spencer ( ) - English philosopher - Eccentric and Neurotic - Expanded upon Darwin’s finding ► Principal Ideas: - Survival of the Fittest rules in the development of human character and social institutions - Laissez-faire government should exist - Natural selection leads to “human and social perfection”

Chapter 7: William James ► William James ( ) - American psychologist - Born to wealthy family - Harvard professor - Studied medicine, painting, and zoology Principal Ideas: - The goal of psychology is to study living people as they adapt to their surroundings - There exists a non-rational aspect of human emotion - Physical responses precede emotional responses - Habits reflect an auto-pilot thought process - Three selves: social, material, and spiritual

Functionalist Psychology The Theoretical ► Behavioral Psychology ► Social Psychology ► Cultural Psychology The Applicable ► Forensic Psychology ► Industrial Psychology ► School Psychology

Facts about Women in Psychology - In the early 1800s, laws in some states prevented married women from working, and women were thought to be at physical risk if they utilized their intellect too much - In the mid-1800s, women were finally admitted to college in the United States - In 1919, women finally won the right to vote - In 1963, Harvard first awarded a doctoral degree to women * Note: Darwin’s “variability hypothesis” supported prejudice against women

Famous Women in Psychology ► Helen Thompson Wolley ( ) - PhD (1900) from University of Chicago - Pioneer in gender studies and psychology - Dissertation study (25 m; 25 f) found: - Men performed better on most tests of motor ability - Women tended to do better on some of the coordination tasks - Men showed more creativity - Women showed more acute senses, and better memory performance - No evidence or confirmation of the belief that women are influenced by emotion more in life than men - ore similarities between the sexes than differences

Famous Women in Psychology ► Leta Stetter Hollingworth ( ) - Marriage to Hollingworth (TA of Cattell) prevented her from teaching in NYC - Enrolled in educational psychology graduate program at Columbia University - Research Findings: - Study of 1000m and 1000f disproved variability hypothesis - Study of menstrual cycle showed no relation to motor skill ability - Interviews with unwed women and women without children show no noticeable difference in happiness or life satisfaction as compared to married mothers

Other Famous Women in Psychology ► Consult the following website: ml

Questions, Comments, Reflections ► ???