What is the goal of structuralism in psychology?

The goal of structuralism in psychology is to dissect mental processes into basic components. This early school of thought focused on breaking down mental experiences into their most fundamental elements, similar to how a chemist might analyze a compound into its constituent elements. Structuralists, such as Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener, aimed to understand the structure of the mind by identifying sensations, feelings, and thoughts. They employed methods like introspection, where individuals would report their conscious experiences in response to stimuli, providing insight into the components that make up our mental processes.

This focus on the basic building blocks of thought and perception distinguishes structuralism from other psychological approaches. For instance, while functionalism examines the purpose and function of mental processes, structuralism is more concerned with the ‘what’ of consciousness rather than the ‘why’. Similarly, the analysis of behavior based on external stimuli tends to align with behaviorism, which operates on a different premise than structuralism. Thus, the emphasis on reducing mental processes to their most elementary parts is central to the goal of structuralism.