PSY 4130 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Developmental Psychology, Applied Psychology, Harvey A. Carr
9 Apr 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Psychology included topics such as ethics, divinity, and philosophy. To learn psychology was to learn the accepted theology of the day. Became primarily influenced by the scottish common sense views. Psychology began emphasizing individual differences, adaptation to the environment, and practicality. Science, emphasis on the individual, and evolutionary theory combined into the school of functionalism. Characteristics of functional psychology: never a well-defined school. Did not have one recognized leader or an agreed-on methodology. Common themes ran through the work of those calling themselves functionalists. Focus was to understand the function of the mind, not upon a description of its contents. The function was to aid the organism in adapting to its environment. Desired to be a practical science, to apply findings to the improvement of the human condition. Participants included animals, children, and abnormal individuals. Urged the use of any methodology that was useful. This led directly to an interest in motivation. Were accepted as legitimate interests for psychology.
