James and Functionalism-American Psychology.
- How did William James incorporate evolutionary theory into psychology?
- What did Dewey mean in the reflex arc article when he said mental content (ideas) have to be understood in the larger context of adaptation.?
- Compare James’ theory of emotion to the common sense theory.
- What five adjectives did James use to describe consciousness?
- What did G.S. Hall do first in psychology? (he did more than one thing first)
- Who was Mary Whiton Calkins? Who did she work with and how was she treated by the Harvard administration.
- What is the law of effect? In what way does it foreshadow behaviorism without really being behavioristic.?
- Contrast Francis Sumner with Kenneth Clark. What role do they play in 20th century U. S. History?
Sample Answer
William James
James incorporated evolutionary theory into psychology by viewing the mind as a product of evolution. He argued that mental processes, such as perception, memory, and emotion, evolved to help us adapt to our environment. For example, James argued that the emotion of fear evolved to help us avoid danger.
Dewey’s Reflex Arc Article
In his reflex arc article, Dewey argued that mental content (ideas) have to be understood in the larger context of adaptation. This means that we cannot understand the meaning of an idea without considering the context in which it is used. For example, the idea of “food” has a different meaning in a situation where we are hungry than in a situation where we are not hungry.
Common Sense Theory of Emotion
The common sense theory of emotion is the view that emotions are caused by internal physiological changes. For example, the common sense theory of emotion would say that we feel fear because our heart starts to race and our palms start to sweat.