Module: Philosophy of Psychology

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Philosophy of Psychology
Module Code	PSY1012 (ITS: PSYC108)
Faculty	Psychology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

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

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lecture
Group work	10	Challenge Based Learning Activities and Assessment Preparation
Independent Study	91	Independent Learning Activities and Assessment Preparation
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20960	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Vlad Glaveanu	Module Teacher	Styliani Vlachou

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Individual Written Essay	25%	n/a
Group presentation	Group work (3 to 5 students)	25%	n/a
Formal Examination	Essay based exam	50%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Early roots: From Antiquity to the Renaissance

Early modern and modern philosophy

20th century psychology

History of ideas about creativity

History of ideas about memory

History of ideas about crowd behaviour

Big debates: Nature vs. Nature

Big debates: Mind vs. Body

Big debates: Agency vs. Determinism

Indicative Reading List

Books:

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
Daniel N. Robinson: 1995, An Intellectual History of Psychology, The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None