Student Resources History and Biographies What Were Structuralism vs. Functionalism? By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 14, 2023 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Aaron Johnson Fact checked by Aaron Johnson Aaron Johnson is a fact checker and expert on qualitative research design and methodology. Learn about our editorial process Print Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Structuralism Functionalism How They Compare Influence on Psychology Frequently Asked Questions Trending Videos Close this video player Structuralism and functionalism were the two earliest schools of thought in psychology. When psychology was first established as a science separate from philosophy, the debate over how to explain human behavior and analyze the mind began. As a result, different approaches and perspectives emerged. Both functionalism and structuralism made important contributions to the development of modern psychology. In order to get an idea of how the field of psychology emerged and got to where it is today, it can be helpful to look at these older perspectives and the impact that they had. What Was Structuralism in Psychology? Structuralism emerged as the first school of thought in psychology. Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of the first experimental psychology lab, advocated some of the ideas associated with the structuralist school. Structuralism was the first school of psychology and focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic components. Researchers tried to understand the basic elements of consciousness using a method known as introspection. One of Wundt's students, Edward B. Titchener, would later go on to formally establish and name structuralism, although he broke away from many of Wundt's ideas and at times even misrepresented the teachings of his mentor. Wundt's theories tended to be much more holistic than the ideas that Titchener later introduced in the United States. Strengths of Structuralism Structuralism is important because it is the first major school of thought in psychology. The structuralist school also influenced the development of experimental psychology. While Wundt's work helped to establish psychology as a separate science and contributed methods to experimental psychology, Titchener's development of structuralism helped establish the very first "school" of psychology. Structuralism itself did not last long beyond Titchener's death. Criticism of Structuralism By today’s scientific standards, the experimental methods used to study the structures of the mind were too subjective—the use of introspection led to a lack of reliability in results. Other critics argue that structuralism was too concerned with internal behavior, which is not directly observable and cannot be accurately measured. What Was Functionalism in Psychology? Other theories also surfaced to vie for dominance in psychology. In response to structuralism, an American perspective known as functionalism emerged from thinkers such as the evolutionist Charles Darwin and William James. Functionalists sought to explain mental processes in a more systematic and accurate manner. Other important functionalist thinkers included Edward Thorndike, John Dewey, Mary Whiton Calkins, Harvey Carr, Hermann Ebbinghaus, and John Angell. Rather than focusing on the elements of consciousness, functionalism in psychology focused on the purpose of consciousness and behavior. Functionalism also emphasized individual differences, which had a profound impact on education. Strengths of Functionalism Functionalism was an important influence on psychology. It influenced the development of behaviorism and applied psychology. Functionalism also influenced the educational system, especially with regards to John Dewey’s belief that children should learn at the level for which they are developmentally prepared. Criticism of Functionalism Functionalism was criticized perhaps most famously by Wundt. "It is literature. It is beautiful, but it is not psychology," he said of functionalist William James’ book The Principles of Psychology. Structuralism vs. Functionalism While these two schools of thought served as the foundation for the future developments of psychology, there were important differences between the two. Structuralism Focused on breaking things down to their smallest parts Examined the capabilities of different parts of the mind Used introspection to study feelings and sensations Functionalism Focused on how things worked together Examined how the mind functions in different environments Used objective techniques to explore memories and emotions Influence on Psychology In 1906, Mary Whiton Calkins published an article in Psychological Review asking for a reconciliation between these two schools of thought. Structuralism and functionalism were not so different, she argued, since both are principally concerned with the conscious self. Despite this, each side continued to cast aspersions on the other. William James wrote that structuralism had "plenty of school, but no thought," while Wilhelm Wundt dismissed functionalism as "literature" as unscientific. Eventually, both of these schools of thought lost dominance in psychology, replaced by the rise of behaviorism, psychoanalysis, humanism, and cognitive psychology through the beginning and middle part of the twentieth century. A Word From Verywell While neither of these early schools of thought remains in use today, both influenced the development of modern psychology. Structuralism played a role in the drive to make psychology a more experimental science, while functionalism laid the groundwork for the development of behaviorism. By understanding these two schools of thought, you can gain a greater appreciation of how psychology developed into the discipline it is today. Frequently Asked Questions What is the relationship between functionalism and structuralism? Structuralism was the first school of thought to emerge in psychology. Functionalism was formed as a direct response to structuralism. Where the structuralists believed psychology was about understanding the structures of the mind, the functionalists believed the goal of psychology was to understand the purpose of thoughts and behaviors. What are the similarities between structuralism and functionalism? While structuralism and functionalism took different approaches to understand human thought and behavior, they share a few important similarities. Both were interested in understanding how the elements of the mind worked together to produce actions. Both schools of thought also wanted to know more about what happens in the mind in response to the environment. How did the methods of early structuralists and functionalists differ? Structuralism studied the contents of the mind through the use of lab experiments and introspection. Functionalism, on the other hand, was more interested in using direct observation and fieldwork in order to better understand the adaptive function of behavior. 6 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. King A. Functionalism and structuralism. In: Jarvie I, Zamora-Bonilla J, eds. The SAGE Handbook of the Philosophy of Social Sciences. Sage Publications; 2011:429-444. Jovanović G. How psychology repressed its founding father Wilhelm Wundt. Human Arenas. 2021;4(1):32-47. doi:10.1007/s42087-021-00186-2 Sikandar A. John Dewey and his philosophy of education. Journal of Education and Educational Development. 2016;2(2):191. doi:10.22555/joeed.v2i2.446 Blumenthal AL, Mirón MS. Language and Psychology: Historical Aspects of Psycholinguistics. John Wiley & Sons; 1970. Calkins MW. A reconciliation between structural and functional psychology. Psychological Review. 1906;13(2):61-81. doi:10.1037/h0071994 Rieber RW. Wilhelm Wundt and the Making of a Scientific Psychology. Plenum Press; 1980. By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit