How Did Charles Darwin's Work Influence Psychology

Charles Darwin was born English in 1809 and died 1882. He was a naturalist and a geologist who traveled around the coast of South America and the Galapagos Islands aboard the HMS Beagle with Robert Fitzroy. The expedition was to chart the coastline; however Darwin was participating in the trip more for geological, natural history, and biological interests. He took specimens to study, dissected invertebrates, and generally spent more time on the land that aboard the boat. Darwin suggested through his theory of evolution that animals and humans shared common ancestry and humans evolved from monkeys. He believed that organisms had differences but that some variations were hereditary and even though many species compete for limited resources, they still overproduced offspring and many that survived did not reproduce; those that did were best suited for the environment and were the most successful in reproduction. He also
It is less scientific and more philosophical in its theoretical approach. It suggests that a person might obtain knowledge through personal experience and self-awareness. Functionalism is a more scientific approach to the study of the mind, has a more practical approach, supports the scientific theory of evolution and is used to determine how mind and body work together to create a more desirable outcome in its environment.
Darwin’s work influenced psychology by his theory of natural selection and evolution from one specie into another. The differences that Darwin says occur are passed onto offspring and these differences were genetic and psychological mutations that allowed coming generations to adapt and survive with greater success. The mental changes and mutations allowed for as much speculation and study as anything affecting the body. His ideas proved to guide researchers into areas of study that he couldn’t have possibly even guessed would