Functionalism - FoundingThe Founding of FunctionalismFunctionalismThe Chicago SchoolJohn Dewey (1859-1952)John DeweySlide 7The Reflex ArcSlide 9Contributions to PsychologyJames Rowland Angell (1869-1949)James Rowland AngellSlide 13The Province of Functional PsychologyThree Major Themes of the Functionalist MovementAngell’s Contribution to FunctionalismHarvey A. Carr (1873-1954)Harvey A. CarrFunctionalism: The Final FormFunctionalism at ColumbiaRobert Sessions Woodworth (1869-1962)Robert Sessions WoodworthDynamic PsychologySlide 24Criticisms of FunctionalismCriticisms of functionalismContributions of FunctionalismDiscussion QuestionsSlide 29Slide 30Slide 31Slide 32Slide 33WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, 2015FUNCTIONALISM - FOUNDINGTHE FOUNDING OF FUNCTIONALISM•Though the figures we have discussed so far were fed up with structuralism, they weren’t setting out to found a new “ism”•In this way, they were less deliberate than Wundt and Titchener – they were modifying psychology, not trying to found something new•As a result, there were several functional psychologies that shared an interest in studying the functions of consciousness•Functionalism is broader than structuralism, just kind of by definition, let alone the multiple methods of researchFUNCTIONALISM•In a way, functionalism was Titchener’s fault•He wrote “structural” as opposed to “functional” in one of his articles, highlighting the importance of studying structures•Thus, he named his opponent that might not have existed otherwiseTHE CHICAGO SCHOOL•William James would say that the founding of functionalism took place at the University of Chicago by John Dewey and James Rowland AngellJOHN DEWEY (1859-1952)•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB0SIMz7whAJOHN DEWEY•Progressive, kind of a hippie•Got his PhD from Johns Hopkins in 1884•Published the first American textbook on the new psychology in 1886, but this was replaced by James’ The Principles of Psychology just 4 years later•Publishing textbooks is still good for finance and notoriety…David Myers is an example from modernityJOHN DEWEY•Established a laboratory school in his 10 years at the University of Chicago•Liked applying psychology to educational and problems, demonstrating the practical implications of functional psychology•Was brilliant, but not a great teacherTHE REFLEX ARC•His publications about the reflex arc were a launching point for functional psychology•Reflex arc: the connection between sensory stimuli and motor responses•Dewey attacked reductionism and elementism, arguing that neither behavior nor conscious experience could be reduced to elements – basically attacking structuralism•He believed that reflexes were less about the elements of sensory stimulation and motor responses, but also about perception and the functionality of what is meaningful and learned–Child touching a hot stove, for example–Perception and movement could be considered a unit, not just a combination of sensation and response–He thought this was analogous to conscious experience – reduction would render it meaninglessTHE REFLEX ARC•Thus, consciousness and meaningful behavior is significant to the organism adapting to its environment•The proper subject matter for psychology had to be the study of the organism as it functions in its environmentCONTRIBUTIONS TO PSYCHOLOGY•Wrote the first American textbook on psychology•Established a laboratory school at the University of Chicago•Research on the reflex arc advanced the study of the function of consciousness•Never called it functionalism, but largely influenced James Rowland Angell and developed the philosophical framework for the new school of thoughtJAMES ROWLAND ANGELL (1869-1949)JAMES ROWLAND ANGELL•Nicknamed “Sunny Jim” •Studied under Dewey for his undergraduate work at the University of Michigan•Was highly influenced by “The Principles of Psychology;” studied with William James for a year at Harvard, earning his Master’s degree•Attended lectures in Germany by Ebbinghaus and Helmholtz, couldn’t get in with Wundt•Never finished his dissertation because he couldn’t write it correctly in GermanJAMES ROWLAND ANGELL•Eventually landed at the University of Chicago, where he stayed for 25 years•Turned it into the major training ground for functionalist psychologists•Went on to be president at Yale and the 15th President of the APATHE PROVINCE OF FUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY•Angell’s textbook on psychology in 1904 rendered the function of consciousness as to improve the organism’s adaptive abilities•Goal for psychology: to study how the mind assists the organism in adjusting to its environment•Shared his functionalist disposition with his presidential address to the APA•Wasn’t planning on a new school of psychology, only “a dispassionate summary of actual conditions” (Angell, 1907, p. 61)•Seemed to think functionalism was the original psychology, but structuralism had gotten in the wayTHREE MAJOR THEMES OF THE FUNCTIONALIST MOVEMENT•It is the psychology of mental operations, in contrast to structuralism, which is the psychology of mental elements•It is the psychology of the fundamental utilities of consciousness – it must be essential to the organism if it is still around•It is the psychology of psychophysical relations (mind-body connection), concerned with the total relationship of the organism to its environmentANGELL’S CONTRIBUTION TO FUNCTIONALISM•The functionalist spirit had been around for a while by this point•What he did was supplement it with a laboratory, a textbook, a body of data, and people to execute its missionHARVEY A. CARR (1873-1954)HARVEY A. CARR•Initially a math major at DePauw and Colorado, he switched to study psychology because of a well-liked professor•They didn’t have a psychology lab where he was studying in Colorado, so he went to the University of Chicago and took coursework with James Rowland Angell•Did labwork with John B. Watson•Taught high school and college, but would eventually replace John Watson as an instructor and Angell as the head of the psychology departmentFUNCTIONALISM: THE FINAL FORM•By this time, structuralism was no longer an opponent to functionalism•Carr defined the subject matter of psychology as mental activity (processes like memory, perception, feeling, imagination, judgment, will, etc.)•The function of these mental activities is to acquire,
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