Final answer:
John Dewey played a key role in the development of Functionalism, focusing on the adaptive functions of mental activities in the context of Darwin's theory of evolution, offering a practical perspective on how behavior contributes to an organism's survival.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Dewey was pivotal in formalizing the school of Functionalism with his publication, The Reflex Arc Concept in Psychology. This school of thought emerged in the context of Darwin's theory of evolution, suggesting that mental processes have evolved as adaptive functions that aid in an organism's survival and reproduction.
In particular, Dewey, along with William James and Charles Sanders Peirce, contributed to the development of functional psychology which emphasized the practical role of mental activities in enabling organisms to adapt to their environments.
Unlike structuralism which focused on the individual parts of the mind, functionalism is concerned with understanding the operation of the whole mind and how behavior contributes to an organism's interaction with its surroundings. John Dewey's contribution helped shift the focus from a static understanding of mental processes to a more dynamic view that considers the utility of mental activities in real-world scenarios.