Structural psychology was first described by Tichener. He was student of wilhelm Wundt. Wilhelm wundt was the first person who has established psycholoogical laboratory. In this laboratory structuralist approach of psychology was used. Structuralism is supposed to be first formal theory in psychology. Structuralism separated psychology from biology and philosophy into its own discipline.structuralist method suggested that psychology is purely theoretical.
William James was a scientist who has established a laboratory in which Functionalism approach is used. Functionalism was not accepted in America. Functionalism was a reaction to structuralism. William James was not satisfied with structuralism and then he proposed Functionalist method. William James suggested that psychology should be practical instead of theoretical as was proposed in the structuralist method. He also suggested that the existence of consciousness and mind has a particular purpose, which should be the focus of the study.
