Functionalism and the Purpose of Behavior

Functionalism in psychology focuses on the purpose of behavior and mental activity. William James, John Dewey, and Charles Sanders Peirce helped found this school of thought. It grew from Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.

Functionalists argued that traits develop because they hel...

Functionalism is a school of thought introduced by William James, influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

Functionalists study various aspects of mental processes, including memory, responses to emotions, and language abilities, to understand their roles in an individual's survival and adaptation in diverse enviro...