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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Philosophy of Psychology
Module Code PSYC108 (ITS) / PSY1012 (Banner)
Faculty Science & Health School Psychology
Module Co-ordinatorVlad Glaveanu
Module TeachersStyliani Vlachou
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Coursework Only
Description

To provide students with a critical historical and philosophical perspective on the development of modern psychology.

Learning Outcomes

1. Provide a detailed account of the main figures, movements and paradigm shifts that contributed to the shaping of Psychology as a discipline
2. Critically understand the influences of other discipline areas, particularly philosophy and the natural sciences, on the history of Psychology, and on the current state of the field.
3. Introduce and evaluate key concepts, theories, frameworks and controversies in the field of Psychology
4. Describe how Psychology relates to other disciplines
5. Understand and evaluate contemporary issues in Psychology



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture24No Description
Tutorial6No Description
Online activity12On-line Learning Activities
Independent Study83No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to the history of Psychology
-how Psychology is a new discipline with a long history - the influence of the Greeks and their conceptual thinking - from Rome to the Middle Ages - the roles of Philosophy and Science in early developments in the field of Psychology

The Renaissance and Early Modern Philosophers

Empiricism, Associationism, Positivism

Rationalism, Romanticism, and Existentialism

Physiologists of the Mind and the beginnings of Phrenology

Origins of modern scientific Psychology: Germany

Evolutionary Psychology

Early Philosophy and Psychology: America

Early Approaches
- Functionalism, Behaviourism, Gestalt, Psychoanalysis, humanistic and cognitive schools

Mental testing

Past and Contemporary issues
Mind Body Debate - Behaviourist and Cognitive approaches - Nativism and empiricism - Modularity of the mind - Rationality - Intentionality - Psychology applied - Current Debates in Psychology

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
EssayIndividual Written Essay30%n/a
Group presentationBrief group presentation by 4-5 students/group30%n/a
In Class TestMCQs and/or essay-type questions40%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories:
Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module.
Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • B. Michael Thorne, Tracy B. Henley: 2005, Connections in the history and systems of psychology, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 9780618415120
  • Duane P. Schultz and Sydney E. Schultz: 2012, Modern Psychology: A History, 10th, Wadsworth Cengage Learning, Canada, 9781111344986
  • Brennan, J: 2003, History and systems of psychology, Pearson Higher Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 013048119X
  • Roger Hock (Author): 2013, Forty Studies that Changed Psychology- Explorations into the History of Psychological Research., 6th, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ,
  • Thomas Hardy Leahey: 2004, A history of psychology, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 0131114476
  • Raymond E. Fancher: 1996, Pioneers of psychology, Norton, New York, 978-0393969948
  • Sacha Bem and Huib Looren de Jong: 2006, Theoretical issues in psychology, SAGE, London, 0761942009
  • Marc Brysbaert, Kathy Rastle: 2009, Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 9780273718185
  • Jose Luis Bermudez: 2005, Philosophy of psychology, Routledge, London, 0415275946
  • David J. Chalmers D.J.: 2010, The Character of Consciousness (Philosophy of Mind), Oxford University Press USA, 0195311116
  • Brian McLaughlin (Editor), Jonathan Cohen (Editor): 2007, Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Mind, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK, 9781405117609
  • Christopher T. Kilmartin, Carol Tavris, Carole Wade: 2001, Psychology in Perspective, 3rd, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 0130283282
  • Upton D., Hughes B.: 2011, Psychology Express: Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 0273737287
Other Resources

None

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