2. INTRODUCTION
• Functionalism is a psychological philosophy that describes the mind as a
functional tool that allows us to adapt to our environments. It posits that our
mental states and behaviors are survival mechanisms, in line
with our inherent biological goals.
3. WILLIAMJAMES (1842-1910)
• Acc to him
• “Psychology is a science Of mental health”
• He was an American philosopher, historian, and psychologist,
and the first educator to offer a psychology course in the
United States
• Inspired by evolutionary theory, James’s theoretical perspective
on psychology came to be known as functionalism, which
sought causal relationships between internal states and
external behaviors.
4.
5. A BRIEF CHARACTERISATIONO FUNCTIONALISM
• Central intellectual concern:-
• The purpose of Psychological Abilities and property
• ....... And what they allow people to do.
• Eg.
• How does the mind mediate the Environment and the needs of
• The organism???
• Functions Not structures
• Evolutionary in tone
6. LIMITATIONSOF FUNCTIONALISM
• The term function Is Variously used by functionalist and
they failed to explain various psychological concepts
• Like structuralists and functionalists also focused only on
consciousness and neglected unconscious facts on human
mind
• It only aid normal human Adjustment To environment
which Is highly biological and Also neglected
• Socio-Cultural Inflences in the functioning of mind
•
7. CRITICISMSOF FUNCTIONALISM
• Applied aspects
• 1. Carr: argued both pure and applied psychology a. Adhere to rigorous scientific procedures b. Valid
research can be performed in classrooms, labs, etc. C. It is the method, not the subject matter, that
counts
• 2. Later, applied psychology has become so pervasive in AmeriIcan psychology
8. CONTRIBUTIONSOF FUNCTIONALISM
• Consequences of the shift in emphasis from structure to function:
• Research on animal behavior incorporated studies of infants, children, and
people with mental disabilities Supplemented the introspective method with
data obtained from other methods
• (i.e., mental tests, questionnaires, and objective descriptions of behavior)
• By 1930, the functional victory was complete
9. • . Shift in emphasis from structure to function
• B. Research on animal behavior became an area of study for psychology
• C. Inclusion of humans other than “normal adults”
10.
11. FUNCTIONALISM& AMERICANPSYCHOLOGY
• Structure of lecture
• 1. Brief characterisation
• 2. Background in C19 thinking
• 3. William James and John Dewey as examples
• 4. Cultural conditions & the nature of functionaBism
• 5. The egacy of functionalism
• And so? Adaptation & a good and happy life the entwining of
seience & morals & philosophy & psychology?
12. THE FUNCTIONALIST PROTEST
Functionalists' central interest:
how the organism uses the mind to adapt to the environment
First uniquely American system of psychology
Deliberate protest against wundt's and Titchener's systems
Interest in applying psychology to real wold
13. THANK YOU
• By SMRITI KUJUR AND BRIJESH WALA
• GROUP :- L 122- B
