Structuralism vs. Functionalism Cited Essay Example

of structuralism, and both schools utilized introspection as a means to explore their ideas. Additionally, both functionalism and structuralism had an aspiration for psychology to become a scientific discipline. Despite some similarities between the two approaches, there were also significant differences. Functionalism sought to understand psychological processes by their functions rather than their structure, and drew upon evolutionary theory as opposed to a combination of mental elements. In contrast, behaviorism focused on observable behavior in response to environmental stimuli, shunning introspection in favor of a more scientific methodology. Structuralism ultimately proved insufficient and declined in popularity, owing to its reliance on subjective experiments that could not satisfy contemporary standards of objectivity.Functionalism placed emphasis on the function or purposes of behavior rather than its analysis and description. Although it lacked the exactness needed for its theory and eventually disappeared as a separate school of psychology, it has become part of mainstream psychology. The focus on process instead of structure is evident in modern psychology. While functionalism was an individual approach with inherited problems from the structuralist reliance on introspection, its theory still remains relevant today. Structuralism is important because it was the first major school of thought in psychology and influenced experimental psychology, but it has no place in modern psychology. Functionalism has had a significant impact on modern psychology, including its impact on the educational system, for which this writer is grateful as they will become a teacher soon.