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William James and Functionalism

By: Cassie Tolentino and Angelina Lagunzad

functionalism's Importance

  • Functionalism broadened the scope of psychological research and application.

  • had a profound impact on education
  • introduced a wide variety of research techniques

Functionalism

  • founded by William James in the late 19th century.
  • contradicts with the structuralist approach
  • Considers mental life and behavior in terms of active adaptation to the person's environment.
  • views that consciousness creates adjustment between the organism and the environment.
  • emphasized individual differences
  • wanted to explain mental processes in a more accurate and systematic manner
  • based upon his philosophy of pragmatism
  • drew criticism from both the structuralists and from the behaviorists.
  • the structuralists declared that the functionalists were simply not studying psychology at all

Who is William James?

  • behaviorists were uncomfortable with the functionalists' acceptance of consciousness
  • philosopher, doctor and psychologist
  • “Father of American Psychology”
  • first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States.

Background

  • He was the first child of Swedenborgian Theologian Henry James Sr.
  • one of the leading thinkers of the 19th century

The James children were educated by the best tutors in New York City and in Europe.

  • Early on, James aspired to be an artist even though his father wanted him to study science.
  • one of the most influential philosophers the United States has ever produced
  • He studied painting with William Morris Hunt around 1858 for a year, but he eventually chose a different path for his life.
  • In 1861, James enrolled at the Lawrence Scientific School and switched to studying medicine at Harvard Medical School in 1864.
  • founded one of the first psychology laboratories in the United States.
  • The following year, James took a break from his education to join Louis Agassiz's expedition to the Amazon basin.
  • He also spent time in France and Germany in 1867 to recuperate from some health woes, including back pains.
  • Born on January 11, 1842 in New York City.
  • After earning his medical degree in 1869, James decided not to practice medicine.
  • He eventually became a lecturer at Harvard.

Influence on Psychology

  • Wrote and published 'The Principles of Psychology' .
  • Teachings and writings helped establish psychology as a science
  • influenced a number of his students who later on became important in psychology
  • Wrote extensively about Pragmatism, the James-Lange Theory of Emotion, and Functionalism.

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