What is Structuralism?
Structuralism, known as structural psychology, was a method of analyzing the human mind by identifying basic components inside it.
The emphasis was on these fundamental units. Introspection was used to examine the mind to create a relationship between various interior experiences, such as feelings or sensations.
This strategy resulted in the establishment of the first psychology laboratory and the very first efforts at the scientific investigation of the human mind. The problem with structuralism, however, was that it was founded on an essentially subjective method – introspection.
The participants were required to concentrate on their emotions and sensations to file them to the experimenters; nevertheless, this strategy was based solely on subjective assessments, which restricted its accuracy.
When studying Structuralism, it may be viewed as a theoretical approach that emphasizes the importance of a structure in which all aspects of society are included. In linguistics, structuralists like Saussure emphasize how language has structure.
This may also be understood via studying human culture, habits, and behavior in many other disciplines such as psychology. Structuralism is more subjective and philosophical.
What is Functionalism?
Functionalism emerged as a reaction to structuralism, that was rejected in the United States. Structuralism was questioned by psychologists like William James, who advocated alternatives.
The mind and awareness, according to James, have a purpose, which seems to be the subject of research. He also emphasized that psychology should be practical rather than theoretical, as the structuralist approach recommended.
In addition, so instead of introspection, functionalism concentrated on more objective characteristics. James believed in awareness but couldn’t discover a scientific technique to investigate it, so he focused on behavior, which he could research objectively.
This also places a stronger emphasis on individual differences, which has had a bigger influence on schooling. The school of behaviorism and applied psychology has been impacted by functionalism.
This still has also had an impact on education and the academic system. It focuses on objective issues while ignoring the subjectivity of human mental processes.
Whenever a disruption occurs, it impacts not just a particular organization but also the overall balance of society. This might be interpreted as an example of societal instability.
Difference Between Structuralism and Functionalism
- William Wundt pioneered structuralism, whereas William James pioneered functionalism.
- Structuralism examines the structure of the mind, that is, the aspects of consciousness such as perception, feeling, etc, while functionalism examines the mechanism of the brain, that is, “why and how” the brain works.
- Structuralism utilized introspection, which was the examination and awareness of one’s consciousness, feelings, and emotions, whereas functionalism was the examination and awareness of one’s consciousness, feelings, and emotions. Using mental testing and behavioral methodologies, this course focuses on applications.
- Structuralism is criticized for being excessively subjective, resulting in a lack of trustworthiness. It also places a lot of emphasis on interior conduct, which cannot be observed or assessed. Functionalism, however, lacks objectivity and dependability because the collected data may not be quantified or analyzed.
- Structuralism became a component of experimental psychology, whereas Functionalism arose as a response or counter-argument to structuralism, influenced heavily by Charles Darwin’s hypothesis.
Comparison Between Structuralism and Functionalism
| Parameter of Comparison | Structuralism | Functionalism |
| Lead by | William Wundt | William Jame |
| Primary method | Introspection is indeed the examination and awareness of someone’s feelings, consciousness, and emotions. | Using mental testing and behavioral methodologies, this course concentrates on applications. |
| Main focus | Concentrate on the mind’s structure, which is, investigating consciousness by devoting attention to characteristics of the mind such as sensation, perception, etc. | Analyze the functionality of the mind, — in particular, “why and how” the brain functions. |
| Criticism | It’s indeed overly subjective, and as a consequence, it is untrustworthy. Also, it places a lot of emphasis on interior conduct, which cannot be observed or assessed. | It focuses on objective issues while ignoring the subjectivity of human mental processes. |
| Focuses on | Various brain elements and abilities | Adaptations of the human brain to various settings |