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

2. 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

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

4. 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!

5. 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

6. 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.“

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

8. 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.

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

10. Structuralism ► What are some criticisms of structuralism?

11. 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.

12. Chapter 7: Darwin ► Charles Darwin (1809-1882) - 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

13. Chapter 7: Herbert Spencer ► Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) - 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”

14. Chapter 7: William James ► William James (1842-1910) - 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

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

16. 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

17. Famous Women in Psychology ► Helen Thompson Wolley (1874-1947) - 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

18. Famous Women in Psychology ► Leta Stetter Hollingworth (1886-1939) - 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

19. Other Famous Women in Psychology ► Consult the following website: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/women.ht ml

20. Questions, Comments, Reflections ► ???