PY3106 - Theoretical Foundations of Modern Psychology

Credit points:	03
Year:	2006
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:

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

• critically evaluate conceptual frameworks (paradigms) underlying contemporary theory and practice in psychology;
• enhance skills in locating, reading and interpreting historical sources relevant to the discipline;
• gain an understanding of, and appreciation for, the philosophical and life science roots of contemporary psychology;
• relate the history of psychology to that of other disciplines in the social sciences, sciences and humanities.

Prerequisites:

(PY2091 or PY2101) and (PY2092 or PY2102) and (PY2093 or PY2106)

Availabilities
, , Study Period 7
Census Date 21-Jul-2006
Face to face teaching 10-Jul-2006 to 15-Jul-2006 (One week (Mon-Sat) of lectures followed by 13 weeks of tutorials during the regular semester 2 period)
Coord/Lect:	jc153015.
Contact hours:	35 hours 26 hours
Assessment:	(35%); (20%); (15%); (10%); (20%).
, , Study Period 2
Census Date 08-Sep-2006
Coord/Lect:	jc121595.
Contact hours:	39 hours 24 hours
Assessment:	(45%); (30%); (25%).

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.