ASSIGNMENT NUMBER: 1

PSYCHOLOGY

Date of submission: 15-feb-2024

Submitted To: Sr. Mohammad Sohail

Submitted By:

SANIA SHAHID

22L-6014

(BBA -4C)
 The three prominent schools of thought in psychology:
Three prominent schools of thought in psychology are:
 Structuralism
 Functionalism
 Gestalt psychology

STRUCTURALISM:
Definition:
Wilhelm Wundt created structuralism, one of the first psychological schools of thought,
in the late 1800s. Through introspection, it sought to analyze the fundamental
components or structures of consciousness. Structuralists held that the fundamental
structure of the mind could be understood by dissecting conscious experiences into
their component elements. (Explore Psychology, 2024)
Key features of structuralism include:
Introspection: Structuralists relied heavily on introspection, a method in which trained
participants would carefully observe and report their own thoughts, sensations, and
feelings in response to stimuli presented to them in controlled experimental settings.
Elemental Analysis: Structuralists sought to identify the fundamental elements of
consciousness, such as sensations, feelings, and images, and to determine how these
elements combined to form complex mental experiences.
Objective Measurement: Structuralism sought to use standardised stimuli and
techniques to make observations and measurements as objective as possible,
notwithstanding the subjective character of introspection.
Structuralism impacted other schools of thought, especially behaviourism and
functionalism, and cleared the path for psychology to become a scientific field. But
ultimately, because introspection was seen to be subjective and unreliable, its
dependence on it as the main research technique contributed to its downfall. Despite
this, structuralism's influence on the development of psychology's initial principles and
methods makes it important to understand in the field's history. (verywell mind, 2023)
EXAMPLE:
A useful illustration of structuralism in psychology may be found in an experiment
carried out by Wilhelm Wundt or one of his adherents.
Imagine a subject receiving a basic visual stimulus, such a geometric form, while seated
in a laboratory. The participant's conscious reaction to viewing the form has to be
reported introspectively.
The participant may explain their sentiments (e.g., "I feel a sense of familiarity with
this shape"), sensations (e.g., "I see a red square"), and any memories or pictures that
the shape invokes (e.g., "It reminds me of a stop sign").
The fundamental components or structures of the participant's conscious experience
would then be determined by the structuralist psychologist's analysis of these
introspective reports. They may concentrate on aspects like colour perception, form
feeling, emotional reaction to the input, and any related memories or mental imagery.
To find the fundamental structure of the mind, structuralists methodically dissect each
participant's conscious experience into its component pieces and examine how these
components come together.
This illustration shows how structuralism used the introspective technique to examine
the fundamental components of consciousness and comprehend how they come
together to create intricate mental experiences.

FUNCTIONALISM:
In reaction to structuralism's shortcomings, the psychology school of functionalism
arose in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Functionalism placed more emphasis on
the useful purposes or functions of mental processes and behaviours than did
structuralism, which was concerned with dissecting the fundamental components of
consciousness. In order to assist people in adjusting to their surroundings, it attempted
to comprehend how the mind works. (The decision lab, 2024)
Key features of functionalism include:
Focus on Adaptive Functions: The goal of functionalist research was to comprehend
how mental and behavioural processes support adaptive roles in human survival and
well-being. According to their perspective, the mind is a dynamic system that changes
over time in response to the demands of its environment.
Holistic Approach: Functionalism approached psychology from a more holistic
perspective, taking into account the organism as a whole in its environment as opposed
to concentrating just on the components of consciousness. In order to comprehend the
adaptive relevance of many mental processes and behaviours, including as perception,
memory, emotion, and learning, functionalists conducted extensive research.
Pragmatic Methodology: Functionalists used a practical approach, using observation,
introspection, and experimentation among other study techniques. They were more
interested in learning how mental processes operate in practical situations than they
were in accurately measuring mental components.
Influence of Evolutionary Theory: Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, in
especially the concept of natural selection, had an effect on functionalism. According
to functionalists, mental functions and behavioural patterns evolve because they offer
adaptive benefits that improve an individual's chances of surviving and procreating.
Functionalism had a major influence on psychology's evolution, especially in the US,
where it helped to give rise to practical subfields including clinical, industrial-
organizational, and educational psychology. Functionalism, which emphasized the
significance of comprehending how mental processes serve adaptive purposes in
guiding behaviour, also led to the development of behaviourism and the cognitive
revolution. (study.com, 2024)
EXAMPLE:
The psychology field's use of functionalism is demonstrated by research on human
memory.
Functionalists are interested in learning more about the adaptive roles that memory
plays in assisting people in navigating their surroundings and achieving their
objectives, in addition to the fundamental components of memory, such as specific
memories or mental pictures.
For example, in order to assist students in learning and remembering material in
educational environments, a functionalist psychologist could investigate how memory
works. They might look at the effects of various study methods or learning approaches
on academic success and memory function.
Functionalists may identify certain cognitive processes associated with memory, such
as encoding, storage, and retrieval, and investigate how these processes relate to
adaptive behaviours like problem-solving, decision-making, and academic
performance through experiments, observation, and analysis.
Functionalist psychologists seek to create theories and therapies that improve people's
capacity to acquire, retain, and use knowledge successfully in daily life by adopting a
comprehensive perspective and taking into account the useful roles of memory in
practical circumstances.

GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY:
A psychological school of thinking known as "gestalt psychology" first appeared in the
early 1900s, mostly in Germany. Gestalt psychologists emphasised that perception and
cognition should be studied as ordered wholes rather than as a collection of discrete
components, focusing on the premise that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
German's translation of the word "gestalt" as "form" or "pattern" captures the emphasis
on comprehensive perception. (Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc, n.d.)
Key features of Gestalt psychology include:
Principle of Perceptual Organization: Proximity, similarity, closure, and continuity
are some of the principles of perceptual organization that gestalt psychologists
proposed. These principles explain how people intuitively see patterns and wholes in
sensory information. These ideas imply that the mind uses certain rules or principles to
arrange sensory data into meaningful perceptual units.
Insight and Problem-Solving: Gestalt psychologists were curious about how people
think about and approach challenges. They maintained that addressing problems
frequently included insight, which is a sudden and profound realization of a problem's
solution that happens when the problem is viewed from a different angle or when its
key components are rearranged. In their investigations into insight and problem-solving
techniques, gestalt psychologists frequently employed exercises like the "water jar
problem" or the "nine-dot problem."
Field Theory: The idea of "field theory," which emphasises the significance of taking
the individual into account within their surroundings or context, was first proposed by
gestalt psychologists. Field theory holds that experiences and behaviour are not only
driven by internal causes, but also by the dynamic interactions that exist between an
individual and their environment.
Holistic Approach: Gestalt psychology emphasises the value of examining the whole
rather than concentrating just on specific components or sections in order to provide a
comprehensive explanation of perception, cognition, and behaviour. Gestalt
psychologists held that perceptual experiences are more complex than the sum of their
parts and that comprehending how perceptual wholes are put together is essential to
comprehending human experience.
Perception, cognition, and social psychology are just a few of the fields of psychology
that have been greatly influenced by Gestalt psychology. Its tenets have affected
disciplines that depend on a knowledge of how humans perceive and organize
information, such cognitive psychology, human-computer interaction, and design.
(Marketing91, 2024)
EXAMPLE:
Designing visual ads is one way that Gestalt psychology is put to use in real life.
Gestalt concepts of perceptual organization are frequently used by advertisers to
produce memorable and captivating commercials that swiftly grab viewers' attention
and deliver important messages. How to do it is as follows:
Proximity: Gestalt psychologists have noted that things are more likely to be seen as a
group when they are close to one another. Closely spaced items in advertisements are
interpreted as linked. In a print advertisement for a car, for instance, the picture of the
vehicle may be positioned next to text that highlights its features and advantages,
strengthening the link between the product and its qualities.
Similarity: Similar objects are viewed as belonging together, regardless of their size,
shape, colour, or texture. This idea is used by advertisers to arrange items and establish
visual hierarchy. For instance, to create a unified design or theme, goods with similar
styles or colors may be placed together in a clothes advertising.
 Closure: Incomplete visuals are often perceived as full by the mind because it fills in
the blanks. Advertisers may employ visually incomplete or suggestively clipped photos
to stimulate viewers' imaginations and make them mentally finish the picture.
Advertisements for luxury goods or perfumes often use this tactic, showing only
snippets of the product to encourage the viewer to picture the entire experience.
Continuity: Gestalt psychologists noted that smooth, continuous patterns are preferred
by the mind. This idea is used by advertisers to direct viewers' attention through a visual
story. Continuity, for instance, makes sure that viewers follow the tale seamlessly from
one scene to the next in an ad, keeping them interested and understanding.
Marketers may successfully capture consumers' attention and shape their perceptions
and behaviour by using Gestalt concepts in advertising design to produce visually
appealing, comprehensible, and memorable advertisements.

Bibliography
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/neurodiversity

Explore Psychology. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.explorepsychology.com/structuralism-in-

psychology/#:~:text=Structuralism%20was%20a%20school%20of,to%20its%20smallest%20possi
ble%20components.

Marketing91. ( 2024). Retrieved from https://www.marketing91.com/gestalt-theory/

study.com. (2024). Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/functionalism-psychology-

overview.html

The decision lab. (2024). Retrieved from https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-

guide/philosophy/functionalism

verywell mind. (2023, February 23). Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/psychology-schools-

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