Question No 13: How did functionalism contribute to our understanding of human behavior and mental processes?
Answer: Functionalism provided a broader perspective on psychology by emphasizing the adaptive functions of mental processes. It encouraged the study of how individuals adapt to their environments and contributed to the development of more practical and applied branches of psychology.
Question No 14: In what ways did functionalism's approach to psychology influence the development of modern psychology?
Answer: Functionalism's emphasis on understanding the purpose of thoughts and behaviors laid the foundation for later psychological theories and research. It contributed to the evolution of psychology as a dynamic and practical science, impacting fields such as clinical psychology and educational psychology.
Question No 15: What is the central focus of behaviorism, and how does it differ from other schools of thought in psychology?
Answer: Behaviorism focuses on explaining all behavior through environmental causes rather than internal forces. It emphasizes observable behavior and differs from schools of thought that delve into mental processes or unconscious factors.
Question No 16: Who were some influential figures associated with behaviorism, and what contributions did they make?
Answer: Notable figures in behaviorism include John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov, and B.F. Skinner. John B. Watson is known for his work on classical conditioning, while Ivan Pavlov is famous for his experiments on associative learning. B.F. Skinner is renowned for developing operant conditioning.
Question No 17: Can you explain the concept of classical conditioning and provide an example?
Answer: Classical conditioning is a type of learning that involves associating a neutral stimulus with a natural stimulus to trigger a response. An example is pairing the sound of a bell with the presentation of food, leading to the bell alone triggering a salivation response.
Question No 18: What is operant conditioning, and how does it differ from classical conditioning?
Answer: Operant conditioning is a type of learning that uses rewards and punishments to create associations between behavior and its consequences. Unlike classical conditioning, which focuses on reflexive responses, operant conditioning deals with voluntary actions and their outcomes.
