Roosevelt University                                                                                                                                                          History and Systems, PSYC 628

School of Psychology                                                                                                                                                                                        Spring, 2005

                                                                                                                                                                                                           James P. Choca, PhD

 

 

 

 

Instructor information:

 

Office Location:         Tower, Room 1857

Office hours:              Wednesdays   3-6 PM

                                    Fridays 1-3 PM

                                    Other times by appointment

Office telephone number: (312) 341-6380

Home telephone number: (773) 472-7791

Cell phone number: (312) 914-3477

 

Required book:

 

Viney, W. & King, D. B. (2003). A history of psychology: Ideas and context. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

 

 

Course Overview:

 

This course provides an overview of the history of psychology, from the contributions of ancient civilizations to contemporary developments. The emphasis will be placed on the perennial controversies  (e.g., determinism vs free-will, nature vs nurture, rationalism vs empiricism, mind vs body), and the ways in which those controversies have been handled through the ages.

 

 

Course Grade:

 

The evaluation of the student’s progress will be a continuous process. Typically every class will include a quiz of the material previously presented in class, and the readings the student was responsible for. Every quiz will be approximately 20 points with the project (see below) being 40 points.

 

 

Attendance:

 

This is a graduate course and material will be continuously presented that will go beyond the readings.  Some issues will be opened up for class discussion. Students will be expected to be there every week and to participate. Poor attendance will affect the student’s grade.

 

 


Student Project:

 

Each student will plan a project that will involve a class presentation.  The project may involve holding a debate with another student, or group of students, to highlight two sides of a controversy. Or, a student may wish to read the original writings of a prominent person in the history of psychology, or do an in-depth study of a person’s life and work. Originality will be taken into account and students should not limit their consideration to the examples noted above.

 

 

Academic Dishonesty:

 

All students will be held to the University’s standards regarding academic dishonesty. These standards are described in the Student Handbook and on the University’s website. Ignorance of standards will not be accepted as an excuse. Students found guilty of academic dishonesty will receive an F for the course, and their names will be forwarded to the Student Services Office. Receiving an F for the course does not preclude imposition of other penalties by the University, including dismissal.

 


 

 

 

Date

Material to be read

Lecture Topics

1/24

 

1.      Introduction to the course

2.      Epistemology

3.      Philosophy of Science

1/31

Viney & King: Chapters 1 & 2

Historical and Philosophical Issues

4.      Early Conceptions

5.      The Ancient Greeks

2/7

Viney & King: Chapter 3

Ancient Psychological Thought

6.      Middle Ages: Minds Possessed

7.      Emergence of Modern Science

2/14

Viney & King: Chapter 4

Roman Period of the Middle Ages

8.      Empiricism

9.      Rationalism

2/21

Viney & King: Chapters 5 & 6

Renaissance

Empiricism

10.  Materialism

11.  Sensation & Perception

2/28

Viney & King: Chapter 7: Rationalism

12.  Darwin’s Evolution

13.  The Founding of Psychology

3/7

Viney & King: Chapters 8 & 9

Mechanization & Quantification

Naturalism & Humanitarian Reform

14.  Early Treatment

15.  Birth of Modern Treatment

3/21

Viney & King: Chapter 10

Founding of Psychology

16.  Learning and Memory

3/28

Viney & King: Chapter 11

Developments after the Founding

17.  Clinical Models

18.  Behaviorism

 

4/4

Viney & King: Chapter 12

Functionalism

19.  Measurement and IQ

4/11

Viney & King: Chapter 13

Behaviorism

20.  Personality Theory

4/18

Viney & King: Chapter 14

Other Behavioral Psychologies

21.  Gestalt Movement

4/25

Viney & King: Chapter 15

Gestalt

22.  Freud

23.  The Psychoanalytic Tradition

5/2

Viney & King: Chapter 16

Psychoanalysis

24.  Cognitive and Moral Development

25.  Phenomenology

5/9

Viney & King: Chapters 17

Humanistic Psychologies

26.  Neuropsychology

27.  Personality Testing

5/13

Viney & King: Epilogue

28.  Epilogue