PSYC 4600 002 Lecture10 Outline of Last Lecture I Brief Introduction to Functionalism II Trends in the 19th century III Evolution was nothing new IV Jenny the chimpanzee V Charles Darwin VI Evolution VII It s influence on psychology VIII Frances Galton IX Studies of animal psychology Outline of Current Lecture I Functionalism II Darwin s influence on psychology III Frances Galton a Recap b Impact IV Functionalism Development and Founding a Herbert Spencer V William James a Methods of psychology b Pragmatism c Theory of Emotions d 3 part self e Habit Current Lecture o o o o o o o Functionalism Focus on Function not structure of consciousness Functionalism How the mind functions and how it s used by organisms to adapt to the environment Protest against Wundt s and Titchener s systems Practical real world consequences What does the mind do How does it do it First uniquely American system of psychology Darwin s influence on psychology Focus on animal psychology No sharp distinction between humans and animals These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Increased interest in animal functioning May reveal knowledge of how humans function Emphasis on the functions rather than the structure of consciousness Acceptance of methodology and data from many fields Focus on the description and measurement of individual differences Frances Galton Recap Genius is inherited 100 biological Developed eugenics to foster the improvement of inherited qualities in humans Statistical analyses Descriptive statistics Normal curve used correlation Mental tests tests of motor skills and sensory capacities Intelligence measured with motor capacity idea from John locke Extensively studied mental imagery with questionnaires Impact Investigated psychological issues for 15 years wasn t a psychologist but significant impact on psychology Scope Adaptation heredity verses environment comparison of species child development questionnaire method statistical techniques individual differences mental test Galton had greater influence on American psychology than Wundt Functionalism Development and Founding Evolution s Neurotic Philosopher Herbert Spencer 1820 1903 Neurotic symptoms limited working capacity Used opium for insomnia Brilliant philosopher Wrote many popular books His system of philosophy was standard curriculum Social Darwinism Premise the development of all aspects of the universe is evolutionary including human character and social institutions survival of the fittest the state should not interfere Vastly popular in America Why America Social Darwinism compatible with American values and individualistic spirit Free enterprise o o o o o o Self sufficiency Independence from government regulation Synthetic philosophy Knowledge and experience can be explained in terms of evolutionary principles Synthetic combining not artificial The continuing evolution of machines Mechanical evolution occurs as well Henry Hollerith and the Punched cards Engineer Henry Hollerith invents a new way of processing information Developed to create more efficient system for US census Far superior to expensive and time consuming hand counting Machine count the holes to tally census statistics William James 1842 1910 Widely considered the father of American Psychology paradoxical figure American precursor to functional psychology Not a founder of functional psychology Inspired yet didn t train other psychologists walked away from the field An epidemic of neurasthenia a condition of American nervousness Some thought it was related to clocks and increasing time pressures prominent among affluent and highly educated people Discovering psychology free will vs determinism accepted position at Harvard in 1872 but left after a year Taught first psychology course at Harvard 1875 1876 The relations between physiology and psychology 1885 promoted to prof of philosophy 1889 prof of psychology The Principles of Psychology Published 1890 Rapidly became popular text James major contribution to the field Topics Consciousness Emotions Conception of self Habit The subject matter of psychology A new look at consciousness Consciousness is a product of the person the situation and the body o o o o o o o o o o o Consciousness is cumulative Rebelled against Wundt s approach Stream of consciousness idea that consciousness is a continually flowing process and any attempt to reduce it to elements will distort it The methods of psychology Introspection must be a basic method Results verified by appropriate checks and comparing across observers Recommended a comparative method Noted the major difference between structural and functional psychologies The functionalist movement would not be restricted to a single method Pragmatism The doctrine that the validity of ideas is measured by their practical consequences It s true if it works The theory of Emotions Contradicted current thinking about the nature of emotional states The arousal of the physical response precedes the appearance of the emotion Later lead to the James Lange theory of emotions The three part self James believed there are three parts to the self Material everything uniquely our own Social Recognition we get from others Spiritual Our inner and subjective being Habit Living creatures are bundles of habits Habit influence of physiological influences repetitive or habitual actions involve the nervous system and serve to increase the plasticity of neural matter Shift away from structuralism toward functionalism perhaps even prefigured behaviorism