FUNCTIONALISM

WHAT IS A FUNCTIONALIST?

• A psychologist that studies functions instead of the structure of consciousness.
• William James was the first functionalist.
• According to the functionalist perspective of sociology, each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's stability and functioning as a whole.

WILLIAM JAMES

• He taught the first Psychology class at Harvard.
• Called the "Father of Psychology".
• It took him 12 years to write The Principles of Psychology.

FUNCTIONALISM IN PSYCHOLOGY

• Before James, Wundt studied the structure of the mind.
• The psychology of behavior of animals and humans to environments.
• Is an alternative to identity theory of mind