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Schools and Movements

Functionalism

Also Known As Functional Psychology
Cognitive Psychology

A school of psychology that emerged in the late nineteenth century United States, holding that mental processes should be studied in terms of the adaptive functions they perform for the organism, in contrast to structuralism's focus on breaking consciousness into its basic elements.

Facts
Central Question
What do mental processes and consciousness do for the organism, rather than what are they made of? 1
Founded Year
1890 2
Dated here to William James's The Principles of Psychology (1890), generally credited as the movement's founding text; functionalism itself emerged gradually in the United States in the late nineteenth century rather than at one defined moment.
Connections

Held Differently

Structuralism, Schools and Movements
Source Wikipedia: Functionalism (psychology)

Founded By

Source Wikipedia: Functionalism (psychology)

In Branch

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Functionalism (psychology)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Opening paragraph
    Functional psychology or functionalism refers to a psychological school of thought that was a direct outgrowth of Darwinian thinking
  • History section
    The mind was considered to perform a diverse biological function on its own and can evolve and adapt to varying circumstances
  • Lead section
    Functional psychology or functionalism refers to a psychological school of thought
  • Founded By: William James, Opening paragraph and History section
    William James is considered to be the founder of functional psychology.
2. Wikipedia: The Principles of Psychology
Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction
Quote, Introduction
The Principles of Psychology is an 1890 book about psychology by William James, an American philosopher and psychologist who trained to be a physician before going into psychology.

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