Functionalism vs. Behaviorism — What's the Difference?

The doctrine that the function of an object should determine its design and materials.

Behaviorism is a systematic approach to understanding the behavior of humans and other animals. It assumes that behavior is either a reflex evoked by the pairing of certain antecedent stimuli in the environment, or a consequence of that individual's history, including especially reinforcement and punishment contingencies, together with the individual's current motivational state and controlling stimuli.

A doctrine stressing purpose, practicality, and utility.

A school of psychology that studies observable and quantifiable aspects of behavior and excludes the study of subjective phenomena, such as emotions or motives.

(Philosophy) The doctrine in the philosophy of mind according to which mental states are defined by their causes and effects.

An approach to psychology focusing on observable behavior which, generally assuming that behavior is determined by the environment and denying any independent significance for mind, largely ignores any pathophysiological processes which may, or may not, underlie subjective, behavioral phenomena.

(architecture) A doctrine, in several fields, that the function of something should be reflected in its design and the materials used in its construction.

An approach to psychology that emphasizes observable measurable behavior.

(philosophy) The definition of mental states in terms of their causes and effects.

An approach to psychology that emphasizes observable measurable behavior

(social science) The idea that social and cultural cohesion are a function of the interdependence and interactions of the institutions of a society.

(psychology) A general school of thought that considers psychological phenomena in terms of their role in adaptation to the person's environment.

(linguistics) functional linguistics

A psychology based on the assumption that all mental process are useful to an organism in adapting to the environment.

Any doctrine that stresses utility or purpose.

A psychology based on the assumption that all mental process are useful to an organism in adapting to the environment

Any doctrine that stresses utility or purpose