structualism and functionlism paper

University of Phoenix Material

Structuralism and Functionalism Worksheet

Complete the following table:

Structuralism
Functionalism
Main Components

-Reduce conscious processes to their simplest components.
- Determine laws by which these elements of consciousness were associated.
- Connect the elements with their physiological conditions.
–Mental functions: look at real-world problems
–How people function in, and adapt to, different environments
Contributions to the field of Psychology

-Method of Research
-Catalyst for other schools of though

-A focus on animal psychology, which formed the basis of comparative psychology.
- An emphasis on the functions rather than the structure of consciousness.
-The acceptance of methodology and data from many fields.
- A focus on the description and measurement of individual differences.
Criticisms

– Titchener and Külpe’s methods are subjective reports of the elements of consciousness
– Introspection alters the conscious experience it intends on studying
– Mind is not capable of studying itself
– Meticulously trained observers will be biased
– Titchener could not give an exact meaning to
Introspection
Structuralism accused of artificiality
– The whole experience cannot be captured by a combination of elements
– Limited concept of the field: Titchener regarded animal psychology and child psychology as not psychology at all
Came mostly from structuralism included:
–Any approach to psychology that deviated from the introspective analysis of the mind into elements could not truly be called psychology
–Criticisms of the functional psychologists’ interest in practical concerns
Ongoing dispute between seeing psychology as a pure or as an applied science.

References
Schultz, D. P. (2011). A History of Modern Psychology (10th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook.

References: Schultz, D. P. (2011). A History of Modern Psychology (10th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook.