56 FUNCTIONALISM IN AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGY

Functionalism analyzes perception from the perspective of a perceptual process. The image of perception is recognized as a function of the perceptual system.

The ideas of functionalism were developed in the theory of unconscious inferences of G. Helmholtz. His position: the initial sensory data is not enough to perceive detailed subjects.

First, they are ambiguous in nature (the visual flow is not strictly related to the retinal principle of the stimulus and depends both on the position of the eye in space and on the position of the second; the projection of the planes of the object allows for various volumetric interpretations).

Secondly, they are superfluous, that is, not every feeling can become a component of the image of an object.

At the root of functionalism in America stood W. James. Functionalism is one of the main directions of American psychology. To the functional flow belong Colombian and Chicago schools. Colombian school founded R. Woodworth. His main works are Dynamic Psychology (1918) and Behavior Dynamics (1958).

Representatives of the Chicago school: D. Endzhim, G. Kerr. The Chicago school used introspection techniques; objective observation, analysis of the products of labor (language, art). The Chicago school was a scientific and educational, it prepared future scientists.

Functionalism tried to analyze all mental manifestations in terms of their adaptive nature. This required their attitude to the circumstances of the environment, on the one hand, and to the needs of the organism, on the other.

Functionalism analyzes the question of the influence of his tendency on solving complex situations that are vital for a person from the point of view of his biologically adaptive meaning. Functionalism originated from the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin. The problem is not to know what consciousness is created from, but to comprehend its function and role in the survival of the subject. Since this time, psychology has sought to understand how these new ways of adaptation are established. This is the approach to the study and ways of acquiring skills, and in general the process of learning.

In contrast to structural psychology (V. Wundt, E. B. Titchener), functionalism requires an analysis of consciousness from the point of view of its function in behavior as a weapon with which the organism adapts to society.

Mental functions are analyzed in connection with the organism and its needs, on the one hand, and with the environment to which the behavior is directed, on the other. Functionalism emphasizes the need to consider the body in a common mind and body, physical and mental aspects, but can not overcome the introspective understanding of consciousness. The practical orientation of functionalism contributed to the formation of pedagogical, medical, engineering psychology.