Christopher DChris: I believe that there is a cultural aspect underlying the
development of certain schools of Psychology' .It would seem that the European
schools of Psychology tento focus on mind independent of culture and national
characteristics.Most European schools are into a "mind"trip be it
structuralism,pschophysics, psychoanalysis
and so on.To me the Functionalists were American dudes who did not disagree
with mental elements but were more concerned with how the processes of mind
emanated.The Functionalists were environmentalists and mind was viewed as an
adaptation process or the end result of environmental processes.Hence the
adaptive processes of evolution were borrowed to explain what was needed in
the Americanization process.Keep in mind that initially Americanization called
for all individuals
to use specific skills to achieve the same national objectives.At that time
everyone was supposed to adapt-a sort of a one size fits all philosophy.This
probably explains the Functional influence on the American educational
system.The "if the shoes fit,wear it" idea probably develop from the
realization that there are different types of strategic acculturation needed in
the Americanization process-hence variuos training programs.I suspect that the
functionalists are probably responsible for the current state of American
education-trying to fit different shoe sizes.
Michael Sylvester,PhD
Daytona Beach,Florida
" when everyone thinks alike,nobody is
thinking."
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