PSY 3121 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Thomas Henry Huxley, Samuel Wilberforce, Blue-Collar Worker
Document Summary
Charles darwin and his evolution changed the focus of psychology from structure to function. Functionalism is concerned on how the mind functions or how it is used by an organism to adapt to its environment. Mind was studied not from its composition (elements and structure) but rather as an accumulation of functions and processes that lead to practical consequences in the real world. First was uniquely american, protest against wundt and titchener which were too restrictive. Major work on the functions of consciousness, individual difference sna animal behaviour was being performed at the same time wundt and titchener excluded these areas. The idea did not originate with darwin. First person to recognize gradation in nature was aristotle. In the 9th century, al-jahiz approached the idea of natural selection; only the fittest survived in accordance with god"s will. Darwin"s father, erasmus, believed god did not interfere with life on earth after setting it into motion.
