An American psychologist, William James, who had set up a psychological laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts soon after the setting up of the Leipzig laboratory, developed what was called a functionalist approach to the study of the human mind. William James believed that instead of focusing on the structure of the mind, psychology should instead study what the mind does and how behaviour functions in making people deal with their environment. For example, functionalists focused on how behaviour enabled people to satisfy their needs. According to William James, consciousness as an ongoing stream of mental process interacting with the environment formed the core of psychology. A very influential educational thinker of the time, John Dewey, used functionalism to argue that human beings seek to function effectively by adapting to their environment.
1. Name an American psychologist who was functionalist.
2. Write the idea of William James.
3. Write the idea of John Dewey.
1. William James was the American psychologist.
2. William James believed that instead of focussing on structure of mind psychology should study that what the mind does.
3. John Dewey used functionalism to argue that human being seek to function effectively by apapting to their environment.
What are the functions of organisational psychologists? Discuss in brief.
1. Organisational psychologists render valuable help in dealing with problems that the executives and employees of an organisation tend to face in their respective roles.
2. They provide organisations with consultancy services and organise skill training programmes in order to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. Some organisational psychologists specialise in Human Resource Development (HRD) while others in Organisational Development and Change Management Programmes.
Write a short note on community psychologists.
Community psychologists generally focus on problems related to community mental health. They work for mental health agencies, private organisations and state governments. They help the community and its institutions in addressing physical and mental health problems. In rural areas they may work to establish a mental health centre. In urban areas they may design a drug rehabilitation programme. Many community psychologists also work with special populations such as the elderly or the physically or mentally challenge. Besides the redirection and evaluation of various programmes and plans, community based rehabilitation is of major interest to.
What is health psychology? What are the areas of interest for a health psychologist?
Health psychology focusses on the role of psychological factors such as stress, anxiety in the development, prevention and treatment of illness. Areas of interest for a health psychologist are stress and coping, the relationship between psychological factors and health, patient-doctor relationship and ways of promoting health enhancing factors.
Differentiate between ‘mind’ and ‘brain’.
Mind: It means mental activity, such as thoughts, emotions and feelings. These arise from biological processes in brain. It does not have a physical structure or has a location.
Brain: It has a physical structure and has a location. Brain activities provide important clues to how our mind functions.
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