Psy 306 HISTORY OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY

Spring 2006

Instructor: Art Warmoth

Objectives:

• Understand the importance of the phenomenological concept of "intersubjectivity" as missing link in psychology and social science theory.
• Understand the worldview and basic empirical contribution of the Gestalt psychologists (Wertheimer, Koffka, Köhler).
• Understand the basic epistemology of postmodern social constructionism & systems theory.

Chapter 1, "Transcendental Phenomenolgy," from Clark Moustakas, Phenomenology, Science and Psychotherapy

Lorraine J. Granit.  "The Phenomenological Approach to Psychologyical Research," from Humanistic Psychology Institute Review.

Chapter 14. "Gestalt Psychology," from B. R. Hergenhahn. An Introductionto the History of Modern Psychology (3rd ed.).

Chapter 1 from Wolfgang Köhler, Gestalt Psychology.
 

Key Terms:

phenomenology                                  epistemology  natural attitude genetic subjectivity phenomenological: objectivity/subjectivity intersubjectivity bracketing intentionality

Gestalt holism Principles of perceptial organization:  figure-ground closure similarity proximity continuity inclusiveness field theory psychophysical isomorphism

Graded Assignment (15% of final letter grade):  Create an glossary of the key terms in Gestalt psychology and phenomenology.  Why are these concepts important in the history of psychology (2 page essay)?