History and Philosophy of Psychology
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- Swinburne Online: Fully online
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning. For Online unit delivery, learning is conducted exclusively online.
2023 teaching periods
| Swinburne Online Teaching Period 3 |
Swinburne Online Teaching Period 2 | |
|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Aims and objectives
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.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
2. Interpret the significance of these figures, events, and ideas with respect to their context
3. Identify the impact of these figures, events, and ideas on evolution of psychology as a discipline
4. Critically evaluate the philosophical, social, and scientific basis for psychological concepts and methods
5. Synthesise arguments concerning psychological opinion, theory, and practice
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
On-Campus Seminar | 3 | 12 | 36 |
Specified Learning Activities Various | 8 | 12 | 96 |
Unspecified Activities Independent learning | 1.5 | 12 | 18 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
Types | Individual/Group Role | Weighting | Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) |
Assignment 1 | Individual | 40% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Assignment 2 | Individual | 40% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Online Discussion | Individual | 20% | 4, 5 |
Content
Topics will be drawn from, but not limited to the following:
- 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
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
Students are advised to check the unit outline in the relevant teaching period for appropriate textbooks and further reading.