Which early school of psychology focused on breaking down mental processes into their most basic components?

• A. Gestalt psychology
• B. Structuralism
• C. Functionalism
• D. Behaviorism

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the question is asking about an early school of psychology that aimed to analyze mental processes by breaking them down into their simplest elements.
2. Step 2: Recall that Structuralism is the school of psychology founded by Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener, which focused on identifying the basic components of conscious experience through introspection.
3. Step 3: Recognize that Gestalt psychology, in contrast, emphasized understanding the whole experience rather than breaking it into parts.
4. Step 4: Note that Functionalism focused on the purpose of mental processes and behavior rather than their structure, and Behaviorism focused on observable behavior rather than mental processes.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct school of psychology that fits the description of breaking down mental processes into basic components is Structuralism.