S T RU C T U R A L I S M
IN D E X:
• I N T RO D C U T I O N AND MEANING OF
S T RU C T U R A L I S M
•AIMS A N D G O A L S O F S T RU C T U R A L I S M
• I N T RO S P E C T I O N
•WILHELM W U N DT
• EDWARD T I TC H E N E R
•CRITICISM
Structuralism
• It is the first school of thought in Psychology.
• Theory of Consciousness
• B reaking down and analyzing the mind into
the smallest possible parts so that you could
reassemble them into an experience that could
be objectively observed by anyone.
• That process or idea is called
"REDUCTIONISM".
• Structuralists uses the
method " I N T RO S P E C T I O N " .
It seeks to analyze the components of an
adult mind.
Seeks to analyze the simplest thoughts of
Aims and a mind that bring out the more complex.
Goals of
S tructuralism To discover the nature of
elementary conscious experiences and
their relationships with each other.
Aims to understand the
different components of consciousness.
IN TR O S P E C TIO N
The main technique
that is used to try and Observing and It is the examination
determine the recording of one's own of one's own conscious
different components subjective experience. thoughts and feelings.
of consciousness.
• 1. Observers must be able to
determine when the process is to be
introduced.
• 2. Observers must be in a state of
readiness or strained attention.
• 3. It must be possible to repeat
the observation several times.
Explicit rules
• 4. It must be possible to vary and conditions
the experimental conditions in
terms of the
controlled manipulation of
in performing
stimuli.
Introspection:
• *Introspection should only be done
by well-trained introspectors.
• *They must only give quantitative
knowledge and judgments.
Benefits of Introspection
• It can be a great source of personal knowledge.
• The process provides knowledge that is not possible in any other
way.
• It can help people make connections between different experiences
and responses.
Wilhelm
Wundt
• A ugust 16, 1832 – A ugust 31, 1920
• Father of the new Experimental
Psychology
• Established the first laboratory of
Psychology at University of Leipzig
in 1870
• Described Psychology as the
Science of conscious experience.
• He labelled this system as VO LU N TA R I S M or
contributions to
Structuralism
Wundt's
the power of willing.
• He described that there are major two
elements of conscious experiences;
"Sensations and Feelings"
• He laid down principles of the method used to
study psychology that is I N T RO S P E C T I O N . He
called it " S E L B S B E O B A C H T U N G " .
• Hebelieved that consciousness included
many different parts and could be studied
by the method of analysis and reduction.
Edward
Titchener
• January 11, 1867 – August 3, 1927
• Student of Wundt who is interested
in the conscious mind.
• Coined the term ST RU C T U R A L I S M .
to Structuralism:
Titchener's contributions • Contributed some methods for the
experiment.
• Hisdevelopment in the Structuralism
helped to established the first school in
psychology, but this first school of
psychology didn't last long.
• Trainedhis students to become skilled and
well-trained instrospectors.
• Proposed3 elementary states of
consciousness.
• Distinguished elements by its
characteristics.
Elements of
Consciousness "3
elementary states
of
• consciousness"
1. Sensations: basic element of perception.
• 2. Images: elements of ideas
• 3. Affections: feelings
Characteristics of the Elements
1. Quality- distinguishes each element from the others.
2. Intensity - how strong, how loud, or how bright.
3. Duration- course of sensation over time. How long it
lasts.
4. C learness- role of attention in consciousness.
Later he identified them as: quality,
intensity, duration, A ttensity & extensity.
• Differentobservers provided
Criticisms different results.
• Disagreements could not be solved
by repeating observations.
• It
was too concerned with internal
behavior and not directly observable.
• Cannot be accurately measured.
• Introspection became more rigid and
limited.
• Eventually became extinct after
Titchener's death.
• Even the most highly
trained observers were not consistent
in their responses.
• Cannot use with children
