PY3106 - Historical Narratives: Foundations of Modern Psychology

This subject will examine the history of psychological thought from its pre-Socratic beginning (ca. 600-450 B.C.) through to the great schools of psychology in the first half of the last century. Topics will include: historiography of psychology; philosophy of psychology; Greek, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance psychologies; empiricism; rationalism; associationism; mechanism; utilitarianism; naturalism; voluntarism; structuralism; functionalism; psychoanalysis; behaviourism and neobehaviourism; gestalt psychology. The subject is not meant simply to imbue in students a "respect for the ancients", although we shall see that the most profound problems that occupy contemporary psychologists were anticipated centuries, even millenia, ago. Rather, it is only against the backdrop of historical/cultural forces that current preoccupations will be seen to make sense at all.

Learning Outcomes

• identify, locate, read and interpret historical sources relevant to the discipline of psychology;
• discuss the philosophical and life science roots of contemporary psychology;
• relate the theory and methods of particular schools of thought to broader historical factors, and consider their relative merits and limitations;
• recognize the impact that sociocultural contexts have upon the application of psychological theories and principles in identifying and solving social problems.

Subject Assessment

• end of semester exam (40%)
• quizzes or tests (20%)
• assignments (40%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.