Functional psychology
Functional Psychology
Functional psychology (pronounced: /ˈfʌŋkʃənəl saɪˈkɒlədʒi/) is a branch of psychology that focuses on the study of how the mind operates and how behaviors are related to the mental processes. The term was first coined in the late 19th century, with its etymology rooted in the English words "function," meaning the purpose for which something is designed or exists, and "psychology," the scientific study of the mind and behavior.
History
Functional psychology originated from the works of William James and John Dewey, who were interested in understanding the functionality of the mind in adapting to the environment. This approach was a reaction to the structuralist psychology of the time, which focused on the structure of the mind rather than its functions.
Key Concepts
Functional psychology is based on several key concepts:
- Adaptation: This is the process by which organisms adjust to their environment in order to survive and reproduce. In functional psychology, adaptation refers to the mental processes that enable individuals to adjust to different situations.
- Mental processes: These are the internal operations that underlie cognitive and emotional states and processes. Functional psychology studies these processes to understand how they contribute to behavior.
- Behavior: This refers to the actions or reactions of an organism in response to stimuli. Functional psychology seeks to understand how mental processes influence behavior.
Related Terms
- Structuralism: This is a branch of psychology that focuses on the structure of the mind, in contrast to functional psychology, which focuses on the functions of the mind.
- Behaviorism: This is a theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. While functional psychology and behaviorism both study behavior, they differ in their focus on mental processes.
- Cognitive psychology: This is the study of mental processes such as "attention, language use, memory, perception, problem solving, creativity, and thinking." Functional psychology is often seen as a precursor to cognitive psychology.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Functional psychology
- Wikipedia's article - Functional psychology
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