functionalism

Definitions

• (architecture) A doctrine, in several fields, that the function of something should be reflected in its design and the materials used in its construction
• (philosophy) The definition of mental states in terms of their causes and effects
• (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