FUNTIONALISM: DEVELOPMENT AND FOUNDING

HERBERT SPENCER (1820-1903)

Coined the term “Survival of the fittest”

Darwin’s Rival

Social Darwinism: applied evolution to society; whatever doesn’t work, doesn’t survive. We are getting closer and closer to perfection.

Walked around with ear muffs on all the time so no one could disturb his thinking

Synthetic Philosophy: the idea that knowledge and experience can be explained in terms of evolutionary principles

His evolutionary ideas fit in (Zeitgeist) and Americans approved of his ideas

The evolution of machines progressed faster than the evolution in nature (Samuel Butler came up with this idea)

Butler used the example of Babbage and his analytical computer: 1890 census… by the time they were done with it, it was almost time to do the 1900 census.

Henry Hollerith: came up with the idea using punch cards (now IBM)

WILLIAM JAMES (1842-1910)

The second most well known figure (to Wundt) in Psychology

We are not sure what his place was in psychology because he did not consider himself a psychologist

Father was second riches man in the United States

Was sick a lot because his mother only gave him attention when he was ill

Traveled a lot

Had the best tutors

            Father bought him a science kit

At 18 wanted to be an artist

            Sucked, so he stopped

Enrolled in the Scientific School at Harvard (medicine)

            Wanted to enlist in the War, but his father wouldn’t let him- then he became “ill”

Classified Animals

            Boring so he went back to medicine

Family thought he was suffering from “America”

            Moved to Germany

            Studied under Helmholtz and Wundt

            Came back to the US and admitted himself into an asylum

Neurasthenia: an “American” disease; a trendy illness; characterized by insomnia, hypochondria, skin rash, headaches, nervous exhaustion

Everyone who was someone had Neurasthenia

Treatment for Neurasthenia

            Men: Medicine and rest

            Women: 6 weeks in bed, eating fatty foods and gaining weight, no social lives whatsoever, and no reading

Taught at Harvard for 1 year; went to Italy; came back and taught Psychology classes

Opened the first Psychology Lab in the US

His father chose his wife

            Thought married life was boring

            Went to Germany frequently and fell in love with women, told his wife about it, she was pissed, he said why? I am a loveable man!!

Continued to teach at Harvard

Wrote a book “Principles of Psychology”

            Attacked the Structuralists

            Didn’t like his book, said he wasn’t good at psychology, and quit

            Gave a man named Munsterberg his lab and classes

Stream of Consciousness: continuous and personal to the individual. It cannot be divided up for analysis

The purpose of consciousness is to adapt to the environment

Pragmatism: validity of ideas is measured by their practical consequences

Believed in introspection like Wundt, but James believed strongly in supplementing introspection with something else. Particularly, he compared other people.

James’ Theory of Emotions

            Pre-James: I am scared, so I run

                               You react due to emotion

                               Emotion causes a physiological response

            James: I run, so I am scared

                          A physiological response occurs and then you assign an emotion to it

                        If you don’t have the physiology, you will not have the emotion

James’ Idea of Self

            Material Self (body, family, all things owned)

            Social Self (self known by others) ex. You are a daughter, girlfriend, and wife

            Spiritual Self States of Consciousness (one’s own objective reality) or (how you are feeling)

            All of James’ Ideas of self are intertwined with one another

Habit: an idea of an action precedes the causes of the action; habits are performed when an activity is repeated.

October 4, 2007

WOMEN IN THE FIELD OF PSYCHOLOGY

Before this time, women were not allowed to be a part of the field of psychology, because women were considered inferior to men.

Variability Hypothesis (Darwin was behind this): the notion that men show a wider range and variation of physical and mental development than women; the abilities of women are seen as more average

The thought was that educated women have “big heads” and should learn about being mothers, not psychology

MARY WHITON CALKINS (1863-1930)

Worked with James at Harvard

Studied at Harvard, but was not awarded a degree

Harvard still doesn’t acknowledge Calkins

Never received a formal degree

Got an honorary degree from Columbia University

Developed Self Psychology

James supported Calkins and actually fought for her to get a degree

President of APA at one time

1906: Considered #12 out of 50 most important psychologists

Helen Bradford Thompson (1874-1947)

Dad was a shoes salesman

From a family that prized education

PhD. In Neurology and Philosophy

First to carry out gender differences research: found that there is not evidence of females being inferior to males

Well known and good researcher

Studied Child Labor Laws: children who leave school and go to work do not succeed educationally as well as those who stay in school

LETA STETTER HOLLINGWORTH (1886-1939)

Given credit for working with gifted people

Because she was married, she was not allowed to teach

Disproved the variability hypothesis

Known for challenging the instinct of motherhood

Had a miserable life growing up

GRANVILLE STANLEY HALL aka G. STANLEY HALL

Third most important psychologist

First President of APA

Organized the first psychology lab in the US

Founded the first psychology journal

Very smart man, did well in school

Interested in evolution, went into seminary (Bad idea). After his first sermon, which didn’t go very well, people prayed for his soul. He then went to Germany to study and do research. He came back to the US because his parents would no longer support him financially (he was 27 at the time). Continued 10 weeks in seminary and then went to Harvard.

Tutored in English at Harvard

Went back to Europe once again and studied under Wundt (Wundt was not very influential to him)

Organized a meeting of European Psychoanalysis, giving American psychology its first look at psychoanalysis

President of Clark University- he often had people at his house to present research. He was known for making “smart ass” remarks after each presentation. People saw him as a jerk. After his remarks, the servant would bring out a huge tub of ice cream.

He was very big into admitting women and minorities into Psychology. He also recruited Jewish people that no one else wanted to admit into their schools.

G. Stanley Hall had the first black student to earn a PhD. (this student then became a president of a college).

Known for the recapitulation theory of development: the psychological development of children repeats the history of the human race

Got people very excited about Child Development

Wrote a book about Adolescence: Sex was mentioned in this book and he was criticized for it

THE CHICAGO SCHOOL (not a formal school, Functionalists typically went to college in Chicago)

Titchener accidentally named Functionalism

2 people who founded Functionalism: John Dewey and James Rowland Angell

JOHN DEWEY

Wrote the first psychology textbook,”Psychology”

Started the nations first laboratory school

Crappy teacher (taught looking at his green hat), yet a brilliant man.

Known for the reflex arc theory: the connection between sensory stimuli and moror responses. The concept proposes that there are 3 elements of the reflex: sensory processes, brain processes, and motor responses. In other words, you cannot break these 3 elements down into parts.

Never called his views on psychology functional

Stated that students learn by doing

Reflex Arc Theory was considered the opening shot to functionalism

JAMES ROWLAND ANGELL (SUNNY JIM) 1869-1949

A happy man

People were told to not get into his car with him nor walk with him

Studied in Germany with Helmholtz and Ebbinghaus. He wrote his dissertation and Helmholtz and Ebbinghaus said they would accept it, yet they wanted him to improve on his German. Angell didn’t want to, so he went back to the US and never received his doctoral degree.

An APA president

Defined functional psychology better: he said that it was known for mental operations, not conscious elements

Stated that mental functions help organisms survive and adapt to their environments

Thought that the mind and body could not be separated

HARVEY CARR (1873-1954)

A math guy, switched to psychology because he liked his professor- who happened to be Angell.

Stated that a major concern of Functionalism is the adaptation to the environment

Believed that functionalism is the bridge between structuralism and behaviorism

ROBERT SESSIONS WOODWORTH (1869-1962)

A part of the Columbia School

Dynamic Psychology: Woodworth’s systems of psychology which was interested in the causal factors and motivations

Never claimed to be a part of any school of psychology

He was a social science teacher and a math teacher; he switched to psychology.

Started out at Harvard and ended up at Columbia University

CRITICISMS OF FUNCTIONALISM

There is no set definition of functionalism. What is it? 17 years later three was a lame definition given to Functionalism

Is Functionalism a real Psychology? Structuralists would say no, because Functionalists do not do research “the right way”

Functionalism is not practical according to the Structuralists

GOOD THINGS ABOUT FUNcTIONALISM

Animal Psychology

Incorporates all types of research

Considered a truly American School of Psychology

Functionalism : Development and Founding

I  Evolution’s Neurotic Philosopher

            Herbert Spencer (1820-1903_

            a.  Social Darwinism

            b.  Synthetic Philosophy

II.  The continuing Evolution of Machines

            Henry Hollerith and the Punched Cards

III.  William James (1842-1910)

Anticipator of Functional Psychology

A.  James’ Life

B.  Subject Matter of Psychology

C.  The Methods of Psychology

D.  Pragmatism

E.  The Theory of Emotions

F.  The Three piece self

G.  Habit

IV.  The Functional Inequality of Women

A.  Mary Whiton Calukins  (1863-1930)

B.  Helen Bradford Thomspon (1874-1947)

C.  Leta Stetter Hollingworth (1886-1939)

V.  Granville Stanley Hall (1844-1924)

            A.  Halls’ life

            B.  Evolution and the Recapitulation Theory of Development

The Founding of Functionalism

The Chicago School

I.  John Dewey (1859-1952)

            The Reflex Arc

II.  James Rowland Angell (1869-1949)

            A.  Angell’s Life

            B.  The Province of Functional Psychology

III.  Harvey Carr (1873-1954)

IV.  Functionalism: The Final Form

Functionalism at Columbia University

I.  Robert Sessions Woodworth (1869-1962)

A.  Woodworth’s life

B.  Dynamic Psychology

Criticisms and Contributions of Functionalism