Structuralists seek to break our consciousness into discrete parts, like physicists categorize matter into different particles. Structuralism Summary Structuralism was one of psychology's early dominant schools. Structuralists believe psychology's goal is to separate consciousness into its most basic parts. Structuralists often use introspection, a subjects own reportings on their conciousness, as a research method. They run tests on subjects and research the subects' and their own observations.

Important People in Structuralism Edward Titchener (AD 1879 to 1927): Titchener was the developer and a strong advocate of structuralism. He identified the four different taste sensations, bitter, salty, sweet, and sour. Wilhelm Wundt Wilhelm Wundt (AD 1879): Wundt gave birth to modern psychology when he started a lab specifically to study the human mind. He supervised and ran hundreds of investigations, taught thousands of students, and began the first psychological journal. He also developed the technique of introspection, where researchers ask subjects for their observations during an experiment. G. Stanley Hall (AD 1883): Hall was the first president of the American Psychological Association and started the first psychology lab in United States. Mary Calkins (AD 1905): Calkins developed a method of studying memory and was the APA's first woman president.

Philosophical Roots Physiological Roots Pseudoscientific Schools of Thought Structuralism Functionalism Psychoanalysis Gestalt Behaviorism Humanism Cognitive Psychology's Roots Home

by Steven N. Jacowski, September 20, 2004
Mr. Ward's AP Psychology - 6th
Craig High School