University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

Code: USPJCK-20-1 Title: PERSPECTIVES IN PSYCHOLOGY Version: 6

Level: 1 UWE credit rating: 20 ECTS credit rating: 10

Module type: Standard

Owning Faculty: Health and Life Sciences Field: Psychology

Valid from: September 2007 Discontinued from:

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: None

Learning outcomes:

      • Place the development of Psychology within its historical context.

      • Outline the development of major approaches in Psychology.

      • Discuss the philosophical foundations of Psychology and psychological knowledge.

      • Discuss fundamental conceptual issues about the nature of knowledge, the nature of people and their relevance to psychological theory and research.

      • Critically compare and contrast competing psychological explanations.

      • Discuss the contribution to psychological knowledge made by other related disciplines.

      • Discuss the application of the various perspectives to a variety of domains within Psychology

Syllabus outline:

Histories of Psychology

Critical, revisionist, presentist and celebratory accounts of the development of Modern Psychology in the UK, USA and Europe.

Introduction to Major Perspectives in Psychology

Biological approaches; Behaviourism and neo-behaviourism; Psychoanalysis; Psychometrics; Cognitivism; Humanism; Phenomenology and Constructivism; Evolutionary perspectives; Social Constructionism; Discursive Psychology; Critical Psychology.

The Relationship between Psychology and other Disciplines

Sociological perspectives including Structuralist, Functionalist and Marxist approaches, Critical Social Theory; symbolic interactionism, feminist perspectives. Anthropology and cross-cultural Psychology.

Key Conceptual Issues and Conflicts in Psychology

Critical debates about the models of the person implicit in psychological theories and the way in which they reflect some of the major theoretical problems in psychology. Philosophy of Science and the scientific status of Psychology. Levels of analysis and reductionism, nomothetic and idiographic approaches to Psychology. Unity and fragmentation of psychology. Competing research paradigms and the validity of Psychological knowledge.

Teaching and learning methods:

A series of lectures and guided reading.

Reading Strategy

All essential reading will be provided in the form of either digitised or printed study packs. Students will also be advised to purchase one of a limited selection of introductory texts for their own further reading. Links to online sources of optional further reading will also be made available through UWEOnline.

Indicative sources

Callinicos, A. (1999). Social Theory: a historical introduction. London: Polity Press.

Colman, A. (Ed.) (1995) Controversies in Psychology. London: Longman.

Danziger, K. (1990). Constructing the Subject: Historical Origins of Psychological Research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Danziger, K. (1997). Naming the Mind: How Psychology Found Its Language. London: Sage.

Fox, D. & Prilleltensky, I. (1997). Critical Psychology: an introduction. London: Sage.

Fuller, R., Noonan Walsh, P., & McGinley P. (1997). A Century of Psychology. London: Routledge.

Haralambos, M. (2000). Sociology: Themes and Perspectives (5th edition). London: Collins.

Harre, R. (2006). Key thinkers in Psychology. London: Sage.

Hergenhahm, B. (1997). An Introduction to the History of Psychology (3rd edition). Pacific Grove: Brooks Cole.

Jones, D. & Elcock, J. (2001). History and theories of psychology : a critical perspective. London: Arnold.

Leahey, T.H. (2004). A history of psychology : main currents in psychological thought. (6th edition). Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Pearson Prentice Hall.

Richards, G. (2002). Putting Psychology in its Place: A Critical Historical Overview (2nd edition). London: Routledge.

Sapsford, R., Still, A., Wetherell, M., Miell, D. & Stevens, R. (1998). Theory and Social Psychology. London: Sage.

Stainton Rogers, R., Stenner, P., Gleeson, K. & Stainton Rogers, W. (1995). Social Psychology: A Critical Agenda. London: Polity Press.

Stainton Rogers, W. (2003). Social Psychology: experimental and critical approaches. Maidenhead: Open University / McGraw Hill.

Stevens, R. (1996). Understanding the Self. Buckingham: Open University Press

Valentine, E.R. (1992). Conceptual issues in Psychology. ( 2nd edition). London: Routledge.

Viney, W. & King, D.B. (2003) A history of psychology : ideas and context (3rd edition). London : Allyn and Bacon, 2003.

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 50% B: 50%

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A Element weighting

MCT

Examination (1 Hour) Multiple Choice Test

1

Component B Element weighting

ES1

Essay (1500 words)

1

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes) No

Component A Element weighting

MCT

Examination (1 Hour) Multiple Choice Test

1

Component B Element weighting

ES1

Essay (1500 words)

1

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes. Yes

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

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