**Historical approach to psychological study: Structuralism**

**Explanation:**

The historical approach to psychological study refers to the early schools of thought that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Each of these schools of thought provided different perspectives on how to understand and explain human behavior and mental processes.

Among the options provided, the historical approach is best represented by structuralism. Structuralism was one of the earliest schools of thought in psychology, developed by Wilhelm Wundt and his followers. It focused on breaking down conscious experiences into their basic components to understand the structure of the mind.

**Key points about structuralism:**

1. **Wilhelm Wundt:** Wilhelm Wundt, a German psychologist, is considered the founder of structuralism. He established the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany in 1879.

2. **Introspection:** Structuralism relied heavily on the method of introspection, which involved trained individuals reflecting on and reporting their conscious experiences in response to stimuli. This method aimed to uncover the underlying structures of consciousness.

3. **Basic elements:** Structuralists believed that the mind could be understood by identifying its basic elements or sensations. These sensations included things like colors, shapes, and sounds. By studying these elements, they aimed to build a comprehensive understanding of the structure of the mind.

4. **Reductionism:** Structuralism can be seen as a reductionist approach, as it sought to break down complex experiences into their simplest components. By reducing experiences to their basic elements, structuralists believed they could gain a deeper understanding of the mind.

5. **Criticism and decline:** Structuralism faced criticism for its reliance on subjective introspection as a method and its narrow focus on conscious experiences. It eventually declined in popularity as other schools of thought, such as functionalism and behaviorism, emerged.

In summary, structuralism is the historical approach to psychological study that focused on breaking down conscious experiences into their basic components. It aimed to understand the structure of the mind through the method of introspection. However, it faced criticism and declined in popularity over time.