Functionalism: Social Darwinism

Functionalism: Social Darwinism

“America’s Psychology” Darwin impact on James
Herbert Spencer
(Lesson 14) “Survival of the fittest.”
9 Society was influenced by evolutionary pressures
Dr. Otto H. MacLin 9 Individual competition healthy for society.
University of Northern Iowa 9 People could genetically pass down learned
characteristics
http://www.crf-usa.org/bria/bria19_2b.htm 9 Fit inherited

„ Desire to work and be productive

9 Unfit inherited

„ Laziness and immorality

Social Darwinism Social Darwinism

Laissez-faire capitalism Ideas took hold in America
America’s industrialized period
„ Government keep a hands off policy Minority held majority of wealth
Justified the treatment of women and minorities
Against laws supporting poor or weak
Government’s should be limited to

„ Maintaining an army
„ Protect people’s property from criminals

Functionalism: Functionalism:
America’s Psychology The University of Chicago

Theories led psychologists to study… Founded by Rockerfeller 1889
Standard Oil
„ …individual differences, animal behavior, development, John Dewey chair philosophy department
and abnormal behavior Philosopher became interested in psychology

„ Search for practical applications „ Influenced by James’ “Principles of Psychology.”

Functionalism movement http://www.uchicago.edu/uchi/about/

„ “America’s Psychology”

Functionalism at Columbia and Chicago

Dewey (1859-1952): Dewey (1859-1952):
Reflex Arc Reflex Arc

Descartes’ Reflex Arc Physiologists saw reflex as 3 parts

„ illustration (p31) „ Stimulus produces sensation
„ Central processing of idea
Hollow tubes „ Behavior – Motor response
Filaments
Animal Spirits Dewey (1859-1952):
Automaton Reflex Arc

Dewey Paper on Reflex Arc
Reflex Arc Can’t Reduce Reflex into Basic Units
Dividing up into elements was artificial
Physiologists saw Must be seen in Broader Context
reflex as 3 parts Coordinated System for Adaptation
Child Example
„ Stimulus
produces (S-R-S-R) – A chain of behavior
sensation
Functionalism:
„ Central James R. Angell (1869 – 1949)
processing of
idea Manage the psychology portion of the
philosophy department
„ Behavior – APA Presidential Address 1906
Motor response
„ Attacked Structuralism
Dewey (1859-1952):
Education “How Can Psychology be Used to Solve
Everyday Problems?”
Backlash to Social Darwinism

„ Robber barons
„ Labor unions
„ Government protective regulations

Social reform
Need to help the “Unfit”

„ Nature – nurture
„ Laboratory School

Functionalism: Edward Thorndike (1874 – 1949)
Columbia University
Cattell’s Student
James McKeen Cattell Influenced by “Principles of Psychology”
Headed the program at Columbia Prolific writer
Promoted Functionalism Seen as a transition
Oversaw over 50 Doctorial Dissertation
„ Comparative & Behaviorism
„ Thorndike and Woodworth
Maze studies with chicks
http://www.columbia.edu/about_columbia/history.html Puzzle Box

Edward Thorndike (1874 – 1949)

Puzzle Box
Similar to Morgan
Trial and Error
Trial and accidental success

„ Through accident they learn the correct response

Edward Thorndike (1874 – 1949) Robert S. Woodworth (1869 – 1962)

Law of Exercise: "Other things being equal, Cattell’s Student
exercise strengthens the bond between
situation and Response" „ Influenced by “Principles of Psychology”

Wrote “Experimental Psychology”
S-O-R Model

„ Stimulus – organism - response

Not just stimulus response
Need to understand the organism between
Motivation “Drive”
Independent & Dependant variables

Assessment