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Strengths and limitations of Functionalism
Key terms of functionalism
Strengths and limitations of Functionalism
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Section two, question two 2.) Fully define & describe Functionalism. How did the thinking at the time move away from structuralism to functionalism? Why did people “give up” on structuralism? What role did early studies of the central nervous system play in changing psychology’s focus from structuralism to functionalism? What role did each of the following thinkers have on the development of functionalism: * Spencer * James * Hall * Cattell Functionalism is basically a theory that describes the mental state of human beings through the combination of both behaviorism theory and the identity theory of the human mind. According to this theory, mental states of people are majorly identified or rather defined by what they frequently do and …show more content…
Amongst them all, James cannot be ignored because he was the key founder of the functionalism school of psychology. On the other hand, Spencer was vocal to further promote this theory to higher levels. He claimed that the structural changes cannot be take place without the impacts of the functional changes. He viewed society as an organism, where the diverse institutions are comparable with those organs in an organism that have like functions. An example would be the government being considered as analogous with a brain and that roads were paralleled with veins. This metaphor has been popular among later social scientists and led to a line of thought called functionalism. James McKeen Cattell and Stanley Hall were also key functionalists with the latter having presented an analysis of how education was fundamental in the lives of young children and many people in the society in general. It is worth mentioning that in as much as the concepts of structuralism and functionalism were sidelined over time, there impact to the field of psychology cannot be ignored. This is because they opened up a platform for further research work on comparable
Behaviorist identify mental states with dispositions. A mental state is identical when, given the same inputs the disposition toward a particular output in the same. Unlike functionalism, behaviorism recognizes dispositions according to merely outward behavior. Alternatively, a functional system includes a typical behavioral outputs given a range of inputs, as well as a tendency to experience a property of a mental state. Functionalists want to individuate mental states causally, but since mental states have mental effects, functionalist advance on behaviorism by acknowledging some similar input and output systems have similar descriptions without entailing similar mental effects. Functionalism, as an advancement of behaviorism, also describes the function of the mental state.
The focus on how social structures determine, and are effective in maintaining the equilibrium is functionalism or structural-functionalism, which is the theorizing of Durkheim and Parsons (Dillon, book, 179). What this means is that we need to look at the structures effectiveness of social structures and make sure that it is at a satisfying state of equilibrium. An example of this would be the human body, we have many different organs and they all work together to produce the fully functional human. What it comes down to is, everything has its own place in society and even if a conflict is introduced, there is a way of working itself out and the society will go back to functioning normally.
Wiley Backe, A. (2001). John Dewey and early Chicago functionalism. History of Psychology. 4(4), 323-340. Retrieved from PsycARTICLES 3, February 2010.
Webb, Wilse. History Of Psychology. Theoretical & Philosophical Psychology 9.1 (1989): 44-45. PsycARTICLES. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.
To help understand this idea I will use the usual Functionalist example of a computer. Imagine that you ask a computer to add the numbers 3 and 7. On one level (the low level) what is happening in the computer is dependent on the hardware; on the other level (the high level) the computer's software is calculating the answer. The Functionalist argues that the process of calculation is simply released by the hardware. Therefore, the software is a function of the hardware.
Jaegwon Kim thinks that multiple realizability of mental properties would bring about the conclusion that psychology is most likely not a science. Several functionalists, specially, Fodor, take up the opposing stance to Kim, supporting that the multiple realizability of mental states is one of the reasons why psychology is an autonomous and justifiable science. Essentially, Kim think that in order for mental states to be multiply realizable then psychology must be fundamentally broken; with human psycho...
Functionalism is a materialist stance in the philosophy of mind that argues that mental states are purely functional, and thus categorized by their input and output associations and causes, rather than by the physical makeup that constitutes its parts. In this manner, functionalism argues that as long as something operates as a conscious entity, then it is conscious. Block describes functionalism, discusses its inherent dilemmas, and then discusses a more scientifically-driven counter solution called psychofunctionalism and its failings as well. Although Block’s assertions are cogent and well-presented, the psychofunctionalist is able to provide counterarguments to support his viewpoint against Block’s criticisms. I shall argue that though both concepts are not without issue, functionalism appears to satisfy a more acceptable description that philosophers can admit over psychofunctionalism’s chauvinistic disposition that attempts to limit consciousness only to the human race.
One of the major sociological perspectives is Functionalism. Functionalism is centered around the work of Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, and Robert Merton. Functionalism is described as a system of connected parts that are designed to achieve
Functionalism is the oldest and most commonly used theoretical approach used to understand social issues. Functionalism is a macrosociological perspective that presents the idea that society consists of different components working together to help a society function as one. Sociolog...
Functionalists believe that society is a structure that functions via interrelating parts, each with its own role. If an individual is sick then they become a deviant to the structure that is society. Deviant means that it is not the norm and does not fit in with society. To get around this the functionalist perspective uses the sick role. An individual can take on the sick role in order to be excused from their usual duties until they are well-enough to resume them.
The Functionalist perspective believes that the solution to the social problem of race is assimilation where an ethnic minority loses its cultural identity to join the dominant group. Which according to them is consistent with America’s image as the melting pot; assimilation they state allows a society to maintain its equilibrium if all members of society regardless of their racial or ethnic identity adopt one dominant culture. When I hear the Functionalist perspective’s theory all I can think of is the word cult. The idea of any group being forced to give up their cultural identity in order to conform to the norm is not the America I know and love. America without its diversity without its countless b...
Reason being, much knowledge was gained in trying to figure out how the brain operates. Freud suggested the idea that the brain can be compartmentalized, which he stated as being the id, ego ad superego. As a result, other theorists developed theories to disproof Freud’s theory, thereby paving the way for the formation of other fields of psychology such as the behaviorists, humanists and cognitive
Psychology started, and had a long history, as a topic within the fields of philosophy and physiology. It then became an independent field of its own through the work of the German Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of experimental psychology and structuralism. Wundt stressed the use of scientific methods in psychology, particularly through the use of introspection. In 1875, a room was set-aside for Wundt for demonstrations in what we now call sensation and perception. This is the same year that William James set up a similar lab at Harvard. Wilhelm Wundt and William James are usually thought of as the fathers of psychology, as well as the founders of psychology?s first two great ?schools? Structuralism and Functionalism. Psychologist Edward B Titchner said; ?to study the brain and the unconscious we should break it into its structural elements, after that we can construct it into a whole and understand what it does.? (psicafe.com)
phenomena in terms of the functions they perform. The society conceived in functionalism is a
There are many criticisms of functionalism and their theories: Ø Functionalist ideas almost portray humans as being autonomous and that only socialisation determines our lives. They do not really see humans as the unpredictable creatures they are, not possible to stray away from the predictable ideas that functionalists have of people. Too much stress is placed on harmony and the potential for conflict and its affects are generally ignored. Ø There is no recognition of difference by class, region or ethnic group. The functionalist picture is simply reflective of happy middle-class American families.