what's the difference between structuralism and functionalism?
please explain in a simplified way, thanks.
http://www.reference.com/world-view/difference-between-structuralism-functionalism-e95df512a6e2eaf4
Structuralism and functionalism are two different approaches in the field of psychology that focus on understanding human behavior and mental processes.
Structuralism is a psychological perspective that aims to analyze the structure of the mind by breaking it down into its basic elements. It focuses on studying different components of human consciousness, such as sensations, feelings, and thoughts. Structuralists believed that understanding these elements would lead to a complete understanding of human psychology. To understand the difference between structuralism and functionalism, you can approach it like this:
To get a better grasp of structuralism, you can imagine breaking down a cake into its individual ingredients - flour, butter, sugar, etc. By understanding the basic building blocks, structuralists believed they could understand the whole structure of the mind.
On the other hand, functionalism is a perspective that seeks to understand the purpose or function of mental processes and behavior. It emphasizes the practical applications of psychological phenomena. Functionalists focused on how the mind functions to adapt and help individuals in their environment. To differentiate functionalism from structuralism, you can think of it as looking at the overall purpose of the cake. Functionalists were interested in why the mind functions the way it does and how it helps people adapt to their surroundings.
In summary, structuralism breaks down the mind into basic elements to understand the whole, while functionalism focuses on the purpose and function of behavior and mental processes. Structuralism focuses on the "what" of the mind, while functionalism emphasizes the "why" and how it helps individuals adapt.