Psychology of Learning: Functionalistic Theories

Running head : FUNCTIONALIST THEORIES

Functionalist theories

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Functionalist Theories

The functionalist theory posits that the society is composed of interconnected parts which function like a social system . In a society there are parts that work in a similar manner the human body works as a system made of different organs . The `organs ' of a society are the social institutions that are set up to work together to ensure that the society runs smoothly . Such institutions include schools and family set ups . Levin

(2009 , para 3 ) defines functionalism as the doctrine that what makes something a thought , desire , pain (or any other type of mental state ) depends not on its internal constitution , but solely on its function ' As such , functionalism theories describe the mental state as a function of behavior , stimulation of senses or other states of the mind . For instance , it is possible to say that pain results from injury in the body thus symbolizing that something is not functioning as expected and therefore the body desires to be out of the painful state

The functionalist theory is not restricted to creatures that have a mental state and can be applicable in silicon-based conditions . That is why the different states of mind can be said to be multiply realized Physical states as well as non-physical states are viewed as able to cause a specific mental state . This is why Levin (2009 ) finds functionalism being similar to dualism . Under functionalism theories there are theories that the mental...