History of psychology. Functionalism in American Psychology (the most important)

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History of psychology. Functionalism in American Psychology (the most important)

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56. FUNCTIONALISM IN AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGY

Functionalism analyzes perception from the perspective of a perceptual process. The image of perception is realized as a function of the perceptual system.

The ideas of functionalism were developed in the theory of unconscious inferences by G. Helmholtz. His position: initial sensory data is not enough to perceive detailed objects.

Firstly, they are polysemantic in nature (the visual flow is not strictly related to the retinal principle of the stimulus and depends both on the position of the eye in space and on the position of the second; the projection of the planes of an object allows for a variety of three-dimensional interpretations).

Secondly, they are superfluous, that is, not every feeling can become a component of the image of an object.

W. James stood at the origins of functionalism in America. Functionalism is one of the main trends in American psychology. The Columbian and Chicago schools belong to the functional current. The Columbian School was founded by R. Woodworth. His main works are "Dynamic Psychology" (1918) and "Dynamics of Behavior" (1958).

Representatives of the Chicago school: D. Anjim, G. Kerr. The Chicago School used methods of introspection; objective observation, analysis of labor products (language, art). The Chicago School was a scientific and educational school, it trained future scientists.

Functionalism tried to analyze all mental manifestations from the point of view of their adaptive character. This required to determine their attitude to the circumstances of the environment, on the one hand, and to the needs of the organism, on the other.

Functionalism analyzes the question of the influence of its aspiration on the solution of complex situations vital for a person from the point of view of its biologically adaptive meaning. Functionalism originated from the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin. The problem is not to know what consciousness is made of, but to comprehend its function and role in the survival of the subject. Since that time, psychology has sought to understand how these new modes of adaptation are established. Such is the approach to the study and ways of acquiring skills, and in general the process of learning.

In contrast to structural psychology (W. Wundt, E. B. Titchener), functionalism requires an analysis of consciousness in terms of its function in behavior as a weapon with which the organism adapts to society.

Mental functions are analyzed in connection with the organism and its needs, on the one hand, and with the environment to which behavior is directed, on the other. Functionalism emphasizes the need to consider the organism in terms of mind and body, physical and mental aspects, but cannot overcome the introspective understanding of consciousness. The practical orientation of functionalism contributed to the formation of pedagogical, medical, and engineering psychology.

Author: Anokhina Z.V.

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