Forerunners of Functionalism

1. Forerunners of Functionalism

2. Functionalism • 1st non-German based school of psychology • Study of the functions and adaptive value of the mind • Heavily influenced by Charles Darwin and his cousin Sir Francis Galton

3. Darwin’s theory of evolution • Based upon natural selection – not survival of the fittest • Characteristics that are advantages for survival of one’s offspring will be selected to be passed on • Adults with these characteristics were more likely to survive and have offspring that survive • Adaptability was seen as important

4. “Psychological” contributions of Darwin • Descent of man (1871) • There is no fundamental difference between man and the higher mammals in their mental abilities • Expression of the emotions in man and animals (1872) • Presented a possible cause of insanity • A biographical sketch of an infant (1877) • Recorded his observations of his children’s development

5. Charles Darwin • 1831 – 1836 – Darwin’s voyage on the HMS Beagle as a naturalist • 1859 – finally published his theory of evolution • Ethical dilemma – Alfred Wallace, another naturalist, sent Darwin a copy of his theory of evolution to get help having it published • Solution – both presented their theories at the same meeting – Darwin’s had much more data and support for the theory

6. Charles Darwin • While his theory was controversial, Darwin was not and did not personally take part in the vicious debate his theory created • He remained friends with church officials, and was buried in a place of honor at his church • Never knighted

7. Opposition to theory of evolution • Religious leaders who were defending church dogma • White supremacists - if all races descended from a common ancestor how could the white race be superior • John Landon Down’s explanation

8. Darwin as a foundation for functionalism • Importance of the study of animals – comparative psychology • Stressed functions of the mind; not the structure • Expanded the methodologies available to study psychological processes • Focused on individual differences and the importance of variation

9. Francis Galton • Independently wealthy, intelligent, and curious • Greatest contributions involved the social and psychological implications of evolution • Hereditary Genius (1869) • Eugenics – eminent people should be encouraged to reproduce and discourage the unfit from reproducing • Also important development and use of statistical methods • Use of the mean, normal distribution, standard deviation, and correlation • Regression to the mean

10. 1st psychometric laboratory • Galton created 1st clinic designed to measure human abilities • For 3 pennies, you could have your mental and physical abilities tested • Most measured human attribute was sensory acuity • Men have better discriminatory ability than women • Women better at visual imagery, but . . .

11. Important contributions to psychology • Applied statistical probability to human attributes • Use of the survey or questionnaires to gather data • Study of English and Scottish schools • Development of 2 association tests that are still used today • Word association • Free association • Identical twin studies of nature-nurture

12. Influence of the Zeitgeist • Inquiries into human faculty and its development (1884) • Included 2 chapters on the faculty of prayer • 2nd edition 1904 • Omitted the 2 chapters on prayer • 1909 – he was knighted for his “contributions to science”

13. Social Darwinism of Herbert Spenser • Application of evolutionary theory to social and economic systems • Spenser coined the expression “survival of the fittest • Fit the American personality of the times: • Development of the biggest most powerful companies because they are “most fit” • Genocide of native populations as unfit

14. Application of evolutionary theory • Europe – widely accepted as it applied to biology and development of species • United States – less accepted as it applied to biology, but widely accepted as it was applied to social and economic policy • Problem: data supported the evolution of species, but no evidence of data to suggest social evolution functions the same as physical evolution

15. William James • Considered to be the most important psychologist at the beginning of the 20th century • More of a philosopher – he rejected strict experimental laboratories • Major contributions to psychology presented in his book, Principles of Psychology

16. Principles of Psychology • What was important to know about consciousness was how it worked and its adaptability • 4 basic characteristics of consciousness: • It is personal • It is ever-changing • It is continuous • It is selective

17. Principles of Psychology (cont.) • Habit formation – nervous system is plastic; it can be changed by experience until age 30. Habits are reflexes; established pathways between brain areas • Temperament – individuals differ in temperament • Motivation – derived from competing instincts

18. Legacy of William James • His importance and his acceptance of functionalism gave it validity • But, his hatred of the lab and teaching of psychology may have prevented functionalism from being accepted if not for a student who had a more experimental perspective

19. G. Stanley Hall • 1st PhD awarded from Harvard department of philosophy and 1st American PhD on a psychological topic – 1878 • 1884 – professorship and the 1st psychological research laboratory at Johns Hopkins • 1888 - 1st president of Clark University

20. General Contributions • Founded the American Journal of Psychology • Founded the Journal of Genetic Psychology • One of the founders of the American Psychological Association in 1892 • Brought Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung to the U.S. to speak in 1909 • Unique contribution was in developmental psychology • 1st psychologist to describe adolescence as a distinctive period of development

21. Influence of evolution • Child development was a recapitulation of evolution • All forms of development (behavioral, social, etc.) recapitulate human evolution • Unable to abandon recapitulation theory of development even when shown to be wrong

22. Interest in sex differences and sex education • Instrumental in the beginning of studying sex differences and education • Led to his opposition to co-education and the education of women between 13-25 years of age (the adolescent period)

23. Arguments against co-education • Women were not inferior; they were different • 3 arguments against co-education: • 1. Adolescence was a critical period for the development of female reproductive organs • All female powers were needed during adolescence for proper development of these organs • Education would damage reproductive organs by diverting energy to mental activity • This would result in decreased fertility and sickly children

24. Arguments against co-education • 2. Adolescent males needed freedom to engage in cathartic expressions of his savage impulses • Making them be gentlemen resulted in them becoming a feminine or a wild male • 3. Natural sex differences during adolescence was the basis for future attraction between sexes • Overexposure leads to disillusionment in both sexes

25. President of Clarke University • From 1896 – 1920 approx. 150 women earned graduate degrees at Clarke • All graduate students admitted by the President • Why the paradox? Education bad for women. We will educate them. • Money

26. Hall and Eugenics • Attempting to improve the human “stock” through selective breeding thereby improving the genetic make up of society • Hall supported government control of reproduction and held a belief in higher and lower classes • Very influential in Europe and North America • Educational discrimination – educational resources should only be spent on the best children (from the best families, of course)