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Structuralism Functionalism
Structuralism Functionalism
Structuralism
Titchener: Structuralism
Titchener: Structuralism
Psychology is different from other sciences because its subject matter requires the presence of a human being
Applied aspects are not needed, and not scientific Only appropriate subjects:
Confusing our human experiences of events (mental processes) as the actual events
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Introspection: Self-observation
Trained observers Used detailed, qualitative, subjective reports Of mental activities during the act of introspecting
Titchener interested in elements/parts, not wholes Much more mechanisitc than Wundt His observers were passive, impartial, mechanical instruments recording stimuli
- Hot water poured down, experience described by reagent - Repeated with cold water
2. Reagents wrote down descriptions of the sensations of urinating and defecating 3. Reagents made notes of sensations during sex, attached devices to measure physiological responses
Elements of consciousness
Sensations:
sounds, sights, smells, etc lead to perceptions ideas made from sensations, memories emotion
Images:
Affective states
Elements of consciousness
Quality:
attribute differentiating each element from the other , e.g., cold, red strength, weakness, loudness, or brightness of sensation
Intensity:
Duration:
Clearness
Elements of consciousness
Elements of consciousness
1.
Reduce conscious processes to simplest components (the bulk of his work) Determine laws by which elements associated Connect the elements with their physiological conditions
Stopped talking about elements, and became more interested in the dimensions you could use to categorize elements (quality, etc.)
Considered changing name of movement (and method of collecting data) to existential psychology, which would emphasize experience as it occurs, without analysis or breaking it down to elements Died before any real changes were made to his system
Criticisms of structuralism
Methodology:
Introspection
Had been attacked for a century or more Titchener could not give an exact definition of what introspection meant Freud proposes the unconscious, which said that part of our mind cannot be consciously experienced, and greatly affects our behavior
Kant, Comte, Maudsley
Sterility / artificiality of lab experiments New specialties did not fit with Titcheners definition of psychology (child psychology, animal psychology)
Contributions of structuralism
Subject matter clearly defined Research methods: good science Introspection remains a viable method Impact on cognitive psychology Strong base against which others could rebel
Chapter 6:
Precursors to Functionalism
Many new species discovered: how could they all fit in Noah's ark? Chimpanzees and orangutans available for viewing Skeleton of gorilla and human strikingly similar Fossils and bones of extinct species found Constant change in everyday life; Change was the order of the day Growing domination of science; industrial revolution
Darwins life
Darwins life
Darwins life
Darwin took friends suggestion to have Wallaces paper and portion of his forthcoming book presented at scientific meeting on same day that Darwins son was buried Darwin overwhelmed with new physical illness Wallace not bitter over Darwins fame; Instead was happy to have brushed fame and content to have unconsciously spurred Darwin to complete his book
Not clever, limited ability to follow abstract thought Poor critic: admired work upon 1st reading; only after reflection perceived deficits Memory extensive, yet hazy Careful, astute, industrious observer and collector of facts Love of natural science Motivation to explain the observed, and to group facts under general laws Hypothesis generation: free mind open to modification Ample leisure; no need to earn income
Darwins life
Evidence for human evolution from lower forms of life Emphasized similarity between animal and human processes
and animals
Expressions descended from behaviors that originally had a practical function Based on his sons developmental stages
There is variation among members of a species This variability is inheritable Each member of a species participates in a struggle for survival Only the fittest survive Natural selection: process that leads to survival of organisms which adapt to the environment; those that can not adapt die
Generalized from Lamarck's and Malthus observations and principles to form his ideas
Recent Data
Finches evolution occurred quicker than Darwin predicted Severe drought: food supply = large, tough spiky seeds
Only the 15% of finches with thickest beak could open seeds; many with slender beaks couldnt and died Thicker beaks = tool for adaptation Offspring inherited that characteristic; 4-5% thicker beaks Adaptation in one generation Rain and floods: large seeds swept away; Only small ones left Same cycle but reverse outcome as above: slender beaks a survival advantage Only the most fit in a given environment lived
Protests to Evolution
Theory thought to negate Christian God Laws about teaching evolution in schools 1972, Tenn minister
Darwins theory breeds corruption, lust, immorality, greed, and such acts of criminal depravity as drug addiction, war, and atrocious acts of genocide
Coined the phrase survival of the fittest all aspects of universe evolved, including human traits and social institutions Promoted individualism and a laissez-faire economic system; opposed government interference Individuals and institutions that fail to adapt should be allowed to perish Utopian view: human perfection inevitable if nothing interferes with the natural order
Derivative of variability hypothesis based on Darwinian ideas Hypothesis: 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. Therefore, it was argued, women
Less likely to benefit from education Less likely to achieve intellectually Had less evolved brains than men Showed a smaller range of talents than men
Hypothesis: continuity in mental functioning between humans and lower animals Implied that study animal behavior vital to understanding human behavior Goal of psychology became how organism functioned in adapting Methods and techniques were broadened in scope Increased focus on individual differences and their measurement
emotions in man and animals Continuity between humans and animals Search for evidence of intelligence in animals Human emotional behavior: inheritance of behavior once useful to animals
Individual differences
The topic was considered inappropriate for psychology by Wundt and Titchener Had been examined by Weber, Fechner, Helmhotz
Galtons life
Estimated IQ = 200 Diverse, novel ideas and inventions Youngest of 9 children Wealthy family Pressured by father to study medicine; Didnt like it Entered Cambridge university to study mathematics Traveled extensively; Wrote popular book, the art of
travel
Cousin Charles Darwin published on the origin of species: Galton fascinated by theory of evolution, which guided his subsequent work
Mental inheritance
Eminent men have eminent sons Specific forms of genius inherited Founded eugenics: improve inherited human traits through artificial selection Applied statistical concepts to heredity problems Eminence not a function of opportunity
Statistical methods
Quetelet: first to apply statistical methods and normal curve to biological and social data Galton
Assumed similar results true of mental characteristics Developed mean and standard deviation Produced correlation measure
Mental tests
Originated by Galton, but term from Cattell Assumed: intelligence can be measured in terms of sensory capacities Developed his own instruments His tests were prototypes for standard psychology lab equipment 1884: established anthropometric laboratory Aim: the definition of the range of human capacities of the entire British population To determine its collective mental resources His data Statistically reliable (1985) Provided information on developmental trends