What fundamental aspect of experience did Brentano emphasize in his act psychology?

Brentano emphasized the importance of meaningful intact experiences in his act psychology, which focuses on the intentionality of mental acts. This means that every mental phenomenon is directed toward an object, highlighting that our experiences are not just fragmented sensations but rather cohesive and intended experiences we encounter in the context of our awareness. Brentano believed that understanding these intact experiences—how they represent the world and relate to one another—is crucial for studying psychology.

In contrast to other options, simplistic elements of experience reduce the complexity of mental activity to mere building blocks, which does not capture Brentano's view of experience as a structured whole. Unique dream states focus on specific altered states of consciousness that may not reflect the broader, intentional nature of experiences in waking life. Reflexive actions pertain more to behavior than to the intentional aspects of thought and experience that Brentano sought to illuminate, emphasizing the need to understand how our mental experiences are intertwined with their meanings and purposes.