Psychology 306

HISTORY OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY

Spring 2001

 

Art Warmoth

Monday-Wednesday, 2-3:50 in Stevenson 3046

 

Course Description: This course is intended to provide "foundational knowledge" (K. Bruffee, 1993) in the field of psychology, particularly in the areas of psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and Gestalt psychology.

 

THIS IS NOT A LECTURE-DISCUSSION CLASS. THE FORMAT INVOLVES EXTENSIVE LIBRARY RESEARCH, WRITING, AND STUDY/SUPPORT GROUP WORK. DISCUSSIONS WILL BE SEMINAR STYLE, BASED ON STUDENTS HAVING COMPLETED THE ASSIGNED READINGS.

The course is divided into five study units as follows: 

1. FOUNDATIONS (3 weeks). Introduction to the concepts of "foundational

knowledge" and "collaborative learning." What is "foundational knowledge? Why and how is it important? A brief introduction to the foundations of modern psychology in Greek philosophy and in turn-of-the-century structuralism and functionalism.

2. BEHAVIORISM ("Objectivity") (3 weeks). The behaviorisms of Clark Hull, E. C. Tolman, and B. F. Skinner. Behavior therapy and behavior modification. Positivistic epistemology and philosophy of science.

3. GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY & COGNITIVE SCIENCE ("Intersubjectivity" &Systems Thinking) (3 weeks). The Gestalt psychology of Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka and Wolfgang Köhler. The tenuous relationship between Gestalt psychology & Gestalt therapy. The close relationship between Gestalt psychology and phenomenology/ constructivist epistemology. Introduction to cognitive science.

4. PSYCHOANALYSIS ("Subjectivity") (3 weeks). The basic psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud. An overview of the major offshoots from and currents within Freudian psychoanalysis.

5. REVIEW & INTERPRETATION (3 weeks). Student group presentations & wrap-up.

 

Goals of the Course: Students will be expected to consider the foundational knowledge they need for their career goals and to demonstrate an understanding of and ability to use the basic concepts of psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and Gestalt psychology. They will also be expected to develop basic collaborative learning skills and to participate in a group presentation related to one of these core areas for the entire class.

Competencies:

Library research, including on-line searches & annotated bibliographies Written expression: essays using APA reference format Reading and "information guerrilla" skills Collaborative learning

Oral presentation (group) Project planning and organization Ability to use basic concepts (as indicated in Study Guides for each part of the course) An understanding of the historical context and major figures in psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and Gestalt psychology and cognitive Science

Section 1. Orientation. Collaborative learning, knowledge communities, foundational knowledge (K. Bruffee). Cartesian vs. Systems thinking. Greek philosophy: rationalism and materialism. Structuralism & functionalism.

Assigned film, readings:

B. Capra. Mindwalk
Wm. James
Wilhelm Wundt
E. B. Titchener
J. R. Angell

Section 2. Behaviorism & Social Engineering. Behaviorist/positivist philosophy of science: "the black box." What Hull, Tolman and Skinner put in the black box. All psychologists are social engineers.

Assigned Readings: Hull, Tolman, Skinner

Library research: Textbook accounts of behaviorism and neo-behaviorism

Section 3. Gestalt psychology and cognitive science. Perception and cognition. The problem of knowledge and the philosophical foundations of psychology: subjectivity vs. objectivity, intersubjectivity.

Assigned Readings: Textbook chapters on Gestalt psychology and cognitive psychology

Library research: Supplementary information on selected supporting topics such phenomenology & the history of ideas, neurophysiology, linguistics, anthropology, cognitive psychology research

Section 4. Psychoanalysis, depth psychology. Freud and the founding of psychoanalysis. Adler, Jung and the neo-Freudians. Contemporary developments.

Assigned readings: Selections by Freud, Jung, and Horney

Library Research: Selected topics in psychoanalysis and depth psychology.

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