Functionalism: Development & Founding

Home , James McKeen Cattell, James Rowland Angell, Mary Whiton Calkins

Lecture 7

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

● In Europe and the US, Darwin’s ideas were spreading ○ Evolution widely accepted in US in late 19th century compared to present day... ○ Evolutionary ideas are being applied to everything ● Mechanical evolution is occuring as well ○ Henry Hollerith develops new information-processing tool ○ Driven by necessity (i.e., adaptation) ● Spencer was an early follower of Darwin ○ A little neurotic ○ Great writer and philosopher

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

● Spencer’s Synthetic Philosophy ○ Knowledge and experience explainable by evolutionary principles ○ Hugely influential at time and on Evo. Psych. ● Spencer promoted Social Darwinism ○ All human characteristics and institutions evolved ○ “Survival of the fittest.” ○ Widely popular in US William James (1942 - 1910)

● Born to a wealthy family ● At 18, wanted to study art...no talent. SAD. ● Wants to join Army...dad says ‘no!’ UNFAIR! ● 1861: Harvard to study chemistry...becomes neurotic ● 1864: Harvard medical school...lacks enthusiasm ● 1865: Zoology expedition to Brazil...contracts smallpox ● 1867: Off to Germany...eats too much schnitzel ● 1869: Medical degree...commits himself to an asylum ● 1870: Back home...still neurotic ● 1878: Gets’ married...continues to flirt.

William James (1942 - 1910)

● “The Pope of American Psychology.” ● More of a philosopher ● Paradoxical and controversial ● Like others, neurotic and depressed ● Attempted many things in life ● Principles of Psychology (1890) ○ Accessible to all ○ Facilitated interest in psychology

Principles of Psychology (1890)

● “Psychology is the science of mental life, both of its phenomena and their conditions ● Psychology... ○ ...should not focus on elements of experience ○ ...should focus on human behavior and adaptation ● Stream of consciousness ● Popularized psychology as a science...hated by Wundt, Titchener...and...William James??? Principles of Psychology (1890)

● Pragmatism ● James-Lange Theory of Emotions ● Three-Part Self: Material, Social, Spiritual

The Functionalists (some of them) ● Mary Whiton Calkins (1863-1930) ● Helen Bradford Thompson Woolley (1874-1947) ● Leta Stetter Hollingworth (1886-1939) ● Granville Stanley Hall (1844-1924) ● John Dewey (1859-1952) ● James Rowland Angell (1869-1949) ● Harvey A. Carr (1873-1954) ● James McKeen Cattell (1860-1944) ● Edward Lee Thorndike (1874-1947) ● Robert Sessions Woodworth (1869-1962)

Granville Stanley Hall (1844-1924)

● Influenced by Wundt’s Physiological Psychology and Darwin’s Origin of Species ● Many “firsts” ○ First American doctoral degree in psychology ○ First American student in the first year of the first psychology lab ○ First psychology laboratory in the US (Johns Hopkins) ○ Began the first psychology journal (American Journal of Psychology) ○ First president of Clark University ○ One of the first applied psychologists ○ Forms APA (1892) and is First President ○ Francis Cecil Sumner - First African American PhD Granville Stanley Hall (1844-1924)

● Promoted the application of psychology to education ● Becomes interested in Freudian Psychoanalysis ● Hall’s main theme: evolutionary theory ○ Mind evolved over time to adapt to new challenges ○ Functionalism! ● Extensive use of questionnaires (not introspection) ● Recapitulation Theory ○ Humans, through normal development, proceed through all evolutionary stages during a lifespan

Functionalism

● Dewey, Angell, and Carr are the leaders ○ James designated them the “Chicago School” ○ Goal of psychology is study how the mind assists an organism in adjusting to its environment ● Themes of functionalist movement: ○ The psychology of mental operations (not elements) ○ The psychology of the fundamental utilities of consciousness ○ The psychology of psychophysical relations (mind-body relations) ● Functionalism also forms at Columbia ○ Cattell - worked on mental tests (applied psychology) ○ Thorndike - animal learning (behaviorism)

Functionalism Need

Adaptive Behavior Has:

● A motivating stimulus Behavior Situation ● A sensory situation ● A response that alters some learning & behavior Functionalism

● Criticisms of functionalism came mainly from structuralism ● Should psychology be pure science or applied? ● Consequences of the shift in emphasis: ○ Research on animal behavior ○ Studies of infants, children, and people with mental disabilities ○ Supplemented the introspective method with other methods (i.e., mental tests, questionnaires, and objective descriptions of behavior)