How was Darwin's theory of evolution inspirational to the functionalists?
What will be an ideal response?
A good answer will include the following key points.
• Darwin had argued that a biologist's job is not merely to describe, say, the puffed-out chest of a pigeon or the drab markings of a lizard, but also to figure out how these attributes enhance survival.
• Similarly, the functionalists wanted to know how specific behaviors and mental processes help a person or animal adapt to the environment, so they looked for underlying causes and practical consequences of these behaviors and processes.
You might also like to view...
What is the role of replication in psychological research?
a. Replication assists psychologists in making accurate diagnoses. b. Replication assists psychologists in determining which clients to treat. c. Replication increases the chances that consumers will understand psychological research. d. Replication provides scientifically verified approaches to treating mental illness.
Regarding sensitivity, more of the primary somatosensory cortex is devoted to the
a. lips. b. shoulder. c. feet. d. legs.
Thinking in which many possibilities are developed from one starting place is called __________ thinking
a. deductive b. convergent c. divergent d. intuitive
You spend Thanksgiving vacation at your friend's home. When you first enter your friend's home you are struck by a funny smell, which no one else seems to notice. What process is responsible for the different reactions you and your friend's family have?
a) adaptation b) habituation c) transduction d) cognitive dissonance