UNIT 0: SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY
STRUCTURALISM V FUNCTIONALISM
Structuralism Functionalism
● Pioneered by Edward Titchener ● Pioneered by William James
Main Idea Main Idea
● Conscious can be broken down into basic ● Mental and behavioral processes are what
structures enable survival
○ EX. One part of your consciousness ● Consciousness is a whole, not made up of
does one thing while the other part parts.
does another.
7 PERSPECTIVES OF PSYCHOLOGY
1. Behavioral
Influence Main Elements
Created a dominant school of thought Focused on learned behaviors through
in psychology - Classical conditioning
- Operant condition
Main question: what external stimuli - Learning through Association
trigger that response? - Influences
- Reinforcements
2. (Neuro)biological
Influence Main Elements
Development of brain scans allow - Look at how genetics can
scientists to examine the brain for influence behavior and how
damage or disease. specific areas of the brain can
affect personality (EX. Phineas
Scientists could understand how the Gage case)
brain works when affected
- Goes into the different system of
the body
, 3. Cognitive
Influence Main Elements
Question: how does memory affect Focused on the mental processes such
behavior? as memory, thinking, and
problem-solving.
- Allow people to pinpoint ways to
measure human intelligence Try and figure out how information is
- Develop new ways to combat acquired, processed, stored, and used
memory issues
- Figure out how the brain works.
4. Evolution
Influence Main Elements
Pioneered by Peter Kropotkin and Focused on the mental processes such
Noam Chomsky as memory, thinking, and
problem-solving.
Gave scientists the idea of adaptation
due to one’s environment Suggests that mental processes exist
for evolutionary reasons like survival or
Used to explain skills like language reproduction.
How phobias work
5. Humanistic
Influence Main Elements
Pioneered by Carl Rogers and Based off of looking at the whole
Abraham Maslow individual
Emergence of humanistic therapy: Stresses concepts like free will,
client-centered therapy, existential self-efficacy, and self-actualization.
therapy, and Gestalt therapy.
Reaching your full potential.
Emergence of Hierarchy of Needs
, Helped people with personal
development and promote social
changes
6. Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic
Influence Main Elements
Pioneered by Sigmund Freud Emphasize how the unconscious mind
works
Therapy conducted using
psychoanalysis and tools like projective How early childhood impacts our
tests (e.g. ink blots) development.
One of the earliest forms of psychology How interpersonal relationships can
sparking all kinds of new ideas. explain human behaviors.
7. Sociocultural
Influence Main Elements
Pioneered by Lev Vygotsky The belief that our environment is
responsible for developing higher-order
Helped teachers promote development functions.
in school.
Questions how adults and peer
Helped with socialization and play. influence, cultural beliefs, and attitudes
can affect learning.
STRUCTURALISM V FUNCTIONALISM
Structuralism Functionalism
● Pioneered by Edward Titchener ● Pioneered by William James
Main Idea Main Idea
● Conscious can be broken down into basic ● Mental and behavioral processes are what
structures enable survival
○ EX. One part of your consciousness ● Consciousness is a whole, not made up of
does one thing while the other part parts.
does another.
7 PERSPECTIVES OF PSYCHOLOGY
1. Behavioral
Influence Main Elements
Created a dominant school of thought Focused on learned behaviors through
in psychology - Classical conditioning
- Operant condition
Main question: what external stimuli - Learning through Association
trigger that response? - Influences
- Reinforcements
2. (Neuro)biological
Influence Main Elements
Development of brain scans allow - Look at how genetics can
scientists to examine the brain for influence behavior and how
damage or disease. specific areas of the brain can
affect personality (EX. Phineas
Scientists could understand how the Gage case)
brain works when affected
- Goes into the different system of
the body
, 3. Cognitive
Influence Main Elements
Question: how does memory affect Focused on the mental processes such
behavior? as memory, thinking, and
problem-solving.
- Allow people to pinpoint ways to
measure human intelligence Try and figure out how information is
- Develop new ways to combat acquired, processed, stored, and used
memory issues
- Figure out how the brain works.
4. Evolution
Influence Main Elements
Pioneered by Peter Kropotkin and Focused on the mental processes such
Noam Chomsky as memory, thinking, and
problem-solving.
Gave scientists the idea of adaptation
due to one’s environment Suggests that mental processes exist
for evolutionary reasons like survival or
Used to explain skills like language reproduction.
How phobias work
5. Humanistic
Influence Main Elements
Pioneered by Carl Rogers and Based off of looking at the whole
Abraham Maslow individual
Emergence of humanistic therapy: Stresses concepts like free will,
client-centered therapy, existential self-efficacy, and self-actualization.
therapy, and Gestalt therapy.
Reaching your full potential.
Emergence of Hierarchy of Needs
, Helped people with personal
development and promote social
changes
6. Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic
Influence Main Elements
Pioneered by Sigmund Freud Emphasize how the unconscious mind
works
Therapy conducted using
psychoanalysis and tools like projective How early childhood impacts our
tests (e.g. ink blots) development.
One of the earliest forms of psychology How interpersonal relationships can
sparking all kinds of new ideas. explain human behaviors.
7. Sociocultural
Influence Main Elements
Pioneered by Lev Vygotsky The belief that our environment is
responsible for developing higher-order
Helped teachers promote development functions.
in school.
Questions how adults and peer
Helped with socialization and play. influence, cultural beliefs, and attitudes
can affect learning.
