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.
2022 teaching periods
| Swinburne Online Teaching Period 3 |
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|---|---|---|
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.
1. Describe significant figures, events, and ideas in the history of psychology.
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.
Students who successfully complete this unit 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
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week | Optional - Activity Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Contact | Collaboration | 4 | 4 weeks | 1 | eLA support – Collaborate |
| Specified Learning Activities | Various | 96 | 12 weeks | 8 | Reading and other media, Discussion Board, Workbook/Journal, Peer Assessment/Feedback. Average – times vary from week to week |
| Unspecified Learning Activities | Independent Learning | 45 | 12 weeks | 3.75 | Assignment preparation, Independent study |
| Total Hours: | 145 | Total Hours (per week): | 12.75 | ||
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these 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
A list of reading materials and other resources will be made available in the unit outline.