Final answer:
Functionalism equates the mind with the brain's functions, suggesting thinking is a result of brain activities. A cluster concept is a set of properties that resemble each other but not all are necessary at once, as seen with the concept of a game. The functionalist view of pain aligns with this notion, recognizing the diversity of pain experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of functionalism in psychology equates the mind to the brain's functions, positing that the mind is the result of what the brain does, such as thinking and processing information. This perspective views mental states as functional states that are characterized by the causal relations they bear to sensory inputs, behavioral outputs, and other mental states. In this way, the analogy can be drawn that the mind is like a game in which the players (mental states) interact with each other and the rules (causal relations) according to certain objectives (behaviors and thoughts).
A cluster concept is a collection of properties that come together in different ways in different instances, rather than all being required at once. For example, the concept of a game includes a wide variety of activities that are not identical but share a family resemblance. Similarly, with regards to the functionalist definition of pain, it is considered a cluster concept because its characterization involves a range of potential experiences, reactions, and causes, rather than a single essential characteristic.