Functionalist approaches in sociology focus on understanding society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability and social order. This perspective emphasizes the functions of various social institutions, such as family, education, and government, and how they contribute to the overall functioning of society. In psychology, functionalism examines mental processes and behavior in terms of their adaptive purposes. Influenced by thinkers like William James, this approach seeks to understand how consciousness and behavior help individuals adapt to their environments, highlighting the importance of practical outcomes in human experience.