A History of Modern Psychology: Functionalism

These flashcards cover key concepts related to Functionalism in psychology as presented in the lecture notes.

Neurotic Philosopher

Herbert Spencer, who suffered from neurotic symptoms that affected his work and life.

Social Darwinism

The philosophy associated with Herbert Spencer that suggests the evolution of human character and societal institutions, advocating for 'survival of the fittest'.

Synthetic philosophy

Herbert Spencer's concept that knowledge and experience can be explained through evolutionary principles.

Stream of consciousness

The idea that consciousness is a continuous flow, a concept emphasized by William James.

Pragmatism

The doctrine that the validity of ideas is measured by their practical consequences, originated by Charles Sanders Peirce.

James-Lange theory of emotions

The theory suggesting that physical responses precede the experience of emotion.

The three-part self

A concept by William James consisting of the material self, social self, and spiritual self.

Variability hypothesis

The theory that men show greater variation in physical and mental development than women, contested by Mary Whiton Calkins.

Recapitulation theory

Hall's theory suggesting children’s development reflects the evolutionary history of the human race.

Functionalism

A movement in psychology that emphasizes mental functions and how individuals adapt to their environments.

Reflex arc

The connection between sensory stimuli and motor responses, emphasized by John Dewey.

Dynamic psychology

Robert Sessions Woodworth’s approach that focuses on the influence of causal factors and motivations on feelings and behavior.

Contributions of Functionalism

Included research on animal behavior, studies of children and individuals with mental disabilities, and incorporation of various research methods.