Overview
This lecture reviews early approaches to psychology, focusing on structuralism and functionalism, and introduces key figures Wilhelm Wundt and William James.
Structuralism
- Founded by Wilhelm Wundt, who started the first experimental psychology lab at the University of Leipzig.
- Structuralism aimed to break consciousness into basic components for study.
- Used introspection, where participants described their subjective experiences in response to stimuli.
- The method was criticized for being too subjective, leading to inconsistent results.
- Structuralism declined due to difficulties in objectively analyzing introspective reports.
Functionalism
- Championed by William James, an American psychologist.
- Functionalism focused on the purpose of consciousness and mental processes.
- Asked questions about why traits and abilities exist and their adaptive functions.
- Influenced by Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
- The functionalist perspective evolved into modern evolutionary psychology.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Structuralism — An approach seeking to analyze the structure of consciousness by breaking it into parts.
- Introspection — A method where participants describe their own conscious experiences.
- Functionalism — An approach that studies the purpose and function of mental processes and behaviors.
- Evolutionary Psychology — The study of psychological traits as adaptations shaped by evolution.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the differences between structuralism and functionalism.
- Consider how introspection and Darwin’s ideas influenced early psychology.