Final answer:
The functionalists were the group of psychologists who concentrated on the whole of consciousness, striving to understand how mental activities contribute to adaptation and survival within the environment. Option c) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The group of psychologists who focused on the whole of consciousness rather than its component parts were the functionalists. Unlike the structuralists, who aimed to break down mental processes into their simplest elements, the functionalists, influenced by William James and others, were more interested in understanding the purpose and function of consciousness.
Functionalism emerged as a reaction to structuralism, focusing on how mental activities aid in an organism's adaptation to its environment. This was in line with Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, which was a key influence on functionalist thinking.
Cognitive psychology, on the other hand, is the branch of psychology that concerns itself with the study of human thinking and how it relates to behavior, falling under the scope of this question as it is a field that values the overall processes of the mind.