History and Philosophy of Psychology

Unit code: PSY370017
Duration: 1 Teaching Period
Contact hours: Recommended 8 hours of study per week

About the unit

This unit provides students with a broad and eclectic view of the history and philosophy of psychology. It surveys a selection of interesting and influential events, people, and ideas and uses these as a focus to critically examine issues that directly and indirectly shape the discipline as it is practiced today.

Content

• The nature and limits of psychology
• Philosophical and physiological precursors to psychology
• The emergence of modern scientific psychology
• Big theories and movements in psychology, such as: psychoanalysis/psychodynamic, Gestalt, behaviourist, humanistic, cognitive, cognitive neuroscience
• Philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and psychology as a science
• Psychological theory and methods
• Philosophical, scientific, social aspects of issues in psychology, e.g., mental illness, therapy, gender, sex, culture, consciousness.

This unit is found in the Graduate Diploma of Psychology.