Psychology 370 History of Psychology
Spring 'B' 1995
David C. Devonis, Ph.D., Psychology Program
Marycrest International University
1607 W. 12th St. Davenport, Iowa 52804
Texts:
Hergenhahn, B.R. (1992) An introduction to the history
of psychology. Pacific Grove, CA: BrooksCole.
American Psychological Association (1992) American
Psychologist (Special issue on the history of psychology),
47(2) February.
APA MONITOR, February, 1995.
...Plus, a variety of readings drawn from various sources, supplied
either by the instructor or by student library search.
Plan of the course: This course will survey the history of psychology
from its beginnings in philosophy to its current diffuse position
in world cultureacademic, professional, and popular.
The topics to be covered, and the approximate dates of coverage,
are listed on the second page of the syllabus.
Exercise/Evaluation: There are three evaluative components to
the course.
(1) Homework/Classwork: The course meets fifteen times. At EACH
session, it is expected that there will be, AT LEAST,
review of assigned reading in text(s)
one question posed by the instructor for class
discussion
distribution of a selection from the historical
literature, either for immediate discussion or for reading
and preparation for the next class session.
occasional student presentations.
Attending class regularly and performing all exercises in and
out of class will count for 30% of the course grade.
(2) Biographical exercise: There are several sources for biographical
information about psychologistsgenerally speaking,
there are biographies, autobiographies, and oral histories (interviews
conducted with living psychologists). You are expected to do
some substantial work in this area of the history of psychology
by discussing a historical figure in psychology in the context
of her or his times. You are to produce a paper with at least
five references, one of which is a biography, autobiography, or
result of an interview with a living psychologist. Part of the
fun is finding obscure psychologists. Extra credit will be given
for finding and working with psychologists who are NOT mentioned
in the name list at the end of Hergenhahn. Criteria for this
exercise will be published no later than March 27. Completion
of this exercise in biography will count for 35% of the course
grade.
(3) Written choice final (See attachment, please). Completion
of this choice final will count for 35% of the course grade.
Class and homework is scored ++ (excellent, 4pts), + (Good,
3pts), / (Adequate, 2pts), (1pt), & 0 (0pts). Assignments
have different weights: all class and homework is additive,
cumulative, and results in a cumulative percentage score for that
section of the course. Biographical exercise and final will have
specialized criteria published later. Late work may be marked
down. All work must be complete by the last class session, May
3 (some may be due earlier), Adjustments are possible if I am
notified anytime before April 26.
Topics (note: this is an approximation ca. 3/13/95 and is subject
to adjustment)
Week 1 3/13, 3/15
Introduction/Review of requirements
Historicism and Presentism
Our Historical Present (review of current psychology)
What is the History of Psychology About?
Who is Great?
Hergenhahn Chs. 1 through 4, plus (handout(s))
Week 2 3/20, 3/22
Sound Bites of the Great Philosophers
The Sounds of Science
Can We Get Here From There?
Pathways Through Psychology
Reading: Hergenhahn, Chs. 4 through 8, plus (handout(s))
NOTE: Do not be depressed--there will be numerous CUTS made
in the Hergenhahn reading.
BEGIN FINDING MATERIAL FOR BIOGRAPHICAL EXERCISE.
Week 3 3/27, 3/29
Psychology is Science?
--What Kant Thought.
--What Wundt Wrought.
--What Bill James Said
Hergenhahn 9 to 11, plus (handout(s)) plus selections from AP
Week 4
The Absolute Triumph of Behaviorism (Hergenhahn 1214)
and
The Precipitate Fall of Behaviorism (Hergenhahn 18)
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A more detailed account of the rest of the topics will be published
at this timethe following is a prospectus. During
this period reports or biographic research will be delivered during
the class meetings as well, as the research gels.
Week 5
The Creation of the World (The APA)
Readings TBA in Hergenhahn, American Psychologist, Monitor,
etc.
Week 6
Psychology as a Profession
The History of the Clinic (Hergenhahn 15, 16), Monitor
Week 7
The Varieties of Professional Psychology
Week 8
Has Psychology a Past and a Future?
These are questions which you should be able to answer after having
taken this course. For your choice final, you are to choose 3
of these and write a complete and detailed answer/response (ca.
1000 wds. long). You need not choose them today! But keep this
list, and keep in mind that you need to do this exercise. Your
instructor will most probably speak on all of these topics at
some time during the course, so you will have at least one view
of the possible responses to each questionif you attend
and take notes!
1.) Wilhelm Wundt is acknowledged by most, if not all, psychological
historians as the founder of the discipline. In your opinion,
is Wundt the best choice for "our founder"? Whether
you think he is or not, provide a sketch of Wundt's career and
accomplishments while arguing for or against his prominence in
the history of psychology.
2.) Psychology, it is sometimes said, has an "image problem".
Explain why this might be so. Then turn to psychology's history
to find at least three episodessingle events or patterns
of psychologists' behaviorwhich might have contributed
to the current "image problem" in psychology.
3.) Provide a coherent brief account of the development of psychology
from ancient times to the end of the 18th century, organizing
your account around the persons and ideas you find to be most
important in the story.
4.) The field of humanistic or "third force" psychology
emerged in American psychology in the 1950s and '60s. Trace
the historical development of humanistic psychology, psychology,
including in your account the contributions of important psychological
systems as well as individuals. Please conclude with a judicious
estimation of the success or failure of the "third force"
in becoming a major force in psychology today.
5.) Provide an account of the development of psychology in America
since 1945 organized around the five most important trends you
see in its development. Along with this, provide an answer to
the following question from a historical perspective: Has psychology
become more disunified and fragmented since 1945, or has it achieved
more unity?
6.) Psychology is considered by some to be a science, while others
consider it to be an art. Please discuss fully this primary duality
in psychology's nature, drawing from arguments in the reading,
discussions, and texts. Does the art/science duality connect
with the science/practice duality as well?
7.) In your reading of the texts as well as the supplementary
readings for the course, you will have noticed that the contributions
of certain individuals and groups are rendered obscure by historians.
Discuss at least three individuals and/or groups which should
be in our history but are not well represented, and give a rationale
for why each is not.
8.) Sigmund Freud, a most prominent figure in the history of
psychology, is not universally well regarded. Discuss the range
of opinions held about Freud and his contributions, and provide
a reasonable, balanced historical judgement on Freud's importance
to psychology.
9.) The history of psychology is often organized around a discussion
of "schools" or "systems" of psychology.
In your opinion, is this a useful way of presenting the history
of psychology? What are the strong points of a "schools
and systems" orientation, and what weak ones? Please illustrate
your answer with references to specific schools and systems.
Questions, ctd.
10.) Choose one field of psychologyclinical
psychology, applied psychology, developmental psychology, etc.
What are some of the external factors (social, political, economic)
which contributed to the rise and growth of the field that you
have chosen?
11.) (One from my graduate comprehensive exams) Behaviorism has
been called "the quintessential American psychology".
Discuss the historical elements in the rise of behaviorism, chart
its development in America in the 20th century, and discuss whether
behaviorism is still a vital force in psychological thought and
practice.
12.) YOUR CHOICE: Construct a question similar in scope and
weight to those above, about any historical subject in psychology,
and answer it.
13.) TO BE FILLED BY ANY GOOD NEW QUESTION ABOUT THE HISTORY
OF PSYCHOLOGY.
The responses you write will be evaluated on the following dimensions:
logical coherence of the argument; inclusion of detail; specific
reference to material in texts, including reference to material
in the American Psychologist special issue (amount to be
specified by 4/5); balance and fairness of the argument; and facility
and correctness of expression (excepting, of course, the normal
errors occur during typing!).
Answering three of these questions by the last day of the course
will constitute, in conjunction with your Completion of the biographical
study and your classwork/homework responses, the basis of your
grade for the course.
I will request that you answer one of these questions and have
the answer critiqued by me on or before the 8th (4/5/95) meeting,
so that I can advise you on points of style or completeness.
History of Psych 370 -- Sample Class Assignment
CLASSWORK:
CLOZE:
Complete the following sentences with the word(s) or phrase(s)
that you think are most appropriate TO YOUR EXPERIENCE.
"To me, history means ____________. Whenever I read
history, I _____________."
Assorted notes (use space below)
Why we do history
Selected types of history, useful to the student of the history
1/2) Sheer Chronology
1) Institutional/Organizational
2) Individual history/biography
3) Social Group history
4) Economic history
5) History of Science
6) History of Ideas
7) "Great Person" history
HOMEWORK (DUE WEDNESDAY FOR CLASS DISCUSSION)
A) On the back of this paper, respond to the following:
There are more textbooks and courses entitled "The
Great Psychologists" than are entitled "The Great Dentists"
or "The Great Welders". Explain whyin any
way you choosewhy this is the case. Also, in your
opinion, can a psychologist ever be GREAT? Answer yes or no.
If yes, for what reason(s)? If no, why not?
B) Come to class with ONE quote from the GREAT PHILOSOPHER whom
you have been assigned. Make it short and snappy. (Hint: try
the "Great Books" series; or also try books of quotations.)
Write your quote down on the back of this sheet!