Essay questions on Structuralism, functionalism and philosophy

Which persisting question do you think best describe the field of psychology?

Answer explanation

• - Problem of the self:

• - Objectivity vs subjectivity: Adding and linking it with goals of psychology.

Make a case that emphasizes the influence/importance of Structuralism in psychology.

Answer explanation

Goal of psychology:

1- Explain

2-Describe

3-control

4-Predict

Titchener--> Goal of psych determine the what, how and why of mental experiences. Related to the general goals of psychology.

What is a limiting factor of structuralism?

Answer explanation

Excludes other developments, has no interest in abnormal behavior, or other subjective concepts

How has the study of of abnormal behavior been studied in psychology?

Answer explanation

Treatment method from early Greek philosophy, to structuralism (no treatment but on understand structures, con of this field is not studying abnormal behavior), functionalism, modern

Modern: Psychoanalysis (free association),

**** introspection is inward evaluation of the self. --> Not the same as free association

Compare and contrast structuralism and functionalism.

Answer explanation

Functionalism rejected the idea of elements of consciousness, and was more focused on the level of practicality of psychology as a science. It also wants to understand the functions of the mind, how mind and behavior interact to adapt to changes in the environment. It looked at the difference between people hence looked at abnormality and includes animal and children in its study.

Ways of organizing--> defines how elements are grouped to provide a better understanding of what they are.

Similarities: Wundt and Hugo Munsterberg used introspection. Looking inward.

Differences: The aim of their introspection. Hugo looks at how mental elements of example decision making influence behavior (voluntary). While Wundt only looks at it to understand the fundamental structures that make up mental experiences.

And Wundt thrive for the introspection to be objective. While Hugo looked at the elements through "self-evaluation" meaning subjectivity/personal experience.

Theoretical perspective--> Umbrella that holds the research path that researchers have to follow to gain a better understanding of a subject.

Similarities: Making psychology a science

Differences: Research methods, subjectivity vs objectivity. The influence of environment

Differences:

Wundt and William James competed for the unofficial title of the worldwide voice of psychology. Pick either Wundt or William James, and make a case for why you believe they hold the unofficial title.

Answer explanation

Both agreed and disagreed on certain point. They agreed with psychology being a science and on on determinism. But disagreed with free will.

Compare and contrast between someone from structuralism perspective and functionalism perspective.

Answer explanation

Wundt and William James:

William James agreed with Wundt's view that psychology needed and could be a science.

William James believed in free will, the ability to change in a situation based on his idea of adaptability to environment which is a key to functionalism.

William James idea of stream of consciousness opposed that of Wundt's element of thoughts

Both believed in determinism

Choose a Greek philosopher and compare him to either an individual from functionalism or structuralism perspective.

Answer explanation

Socrates with structuralism

Problem of the self: 3 parts of the soul, psych reflection( asking question to the self to bring out elements of the self)

Simple to complex with Titchener basic elements of thoughts to further understand the complexity of their combination.

Nativism and empiricism:

Socrates with functionalism

SOcrates:·         3 parts of the soul help understand the different causes behind behavior. 1) reason: Logic, 2) spirit: temperament (feelings), 3) appetite: Drive.

·         These helps in identifying other appropriate behaviors to help in fulfilling either parts.

·   Subjectivity vs objectivity: Truth is both objective and subjective in its role to ethics and justice. Roles are important and those should in theory be objective and be standards, but who is assigning the roles? This makes us wonder if their individual truth is generalizable to the population. Most important is the influence of interpretation of events, using for example inductive reasoning that establishes that experience defines knowledge and the truth. And that our senses help in that truth. But rationality in understanding our perception is important.

Structuralism: ·         Similarly to 3 parts of the soul, behavior has functions and reasons that are subjective behind them.

·         And functionalism is focused on free will and the importance that change is possible and that behaviors are not set in stone.

·         Subjectivity vs objectivity: Aims to find not only differences between individuals but also establishes that psychology needs to be a science hence the importance of determinism.

Socrates and William James: Using persisting question the origin of knowledge

• Socrates looked at the truth, which was in objective. He believed that we have access to the truth through our experience (Inductive reasoning).

Compare William James' idea of stream of consciousness and Wundt's elements of thoughts.

Answer explanation

Stream is the opposite of elements of thoughts.

Elements of thoughts-->Sensation and feelings:

Stream of consciousness--> changes, continuous, personal (subjectivity, no one definition), functional, selective (based on context)

Compare Wundt and Titchener's idea of emotion with that of William James.

Answer explanation

Structuralism has tridimensional theory of emotions with Wundt, on a scale you move around where you are measured on a spectrum. While Titchener only has one. This establishes that emotions exist only based on these dimensions with no personal differences, but are fundamental structures of experiences.

Functionalism: look at subjective experiences, show how we are adapting to events to get emotions. Event-->physical reaction-->interpretation-->Emotions

Structuralism is about mental experience while functionalism is about an event trigerring a physical reaction which in turn give rise to an emotion.

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