Psychology 415-2

Systems and Theories in Psychology
Spring 2008
Brackett Hall 214
TTh 2:00-3:15 PM

January 8, 2008

Instructor Robert L. Campbell
Location Brackett Hall 410A
Office Hours MW 2-4:30 PM
Phone (864) 656-4986
Email campber AtSIgn clemson DoT edu
Web http://www.robertlcampbell.com

Textbook:

B. Michael Thorne and Tracy B. Henley, Connections in the history and systems of psychology (3rd edition). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.

Course Description: Although psychology has been a distinct academic discipline for a little over 100 years, psychological questions have been asked for thousands of years. In this course, we will survey the roots of contemporary psychology in Western philosophy, and trace its development since it began to separate from philosophy. Because there is still doubt in some quarters whether psychology is a science, and psychologists are usually taught limited conceptions of science, we will pay special attention to issues in the philosophy of science that affect psychology.

Course Attendance, Tests, and Grading: It's wisest to attend all classes; there is a lot in a course like this that you will not learn by reading the textbook. Moreover, this is a small class and your contributions to class discussion will be important, so staying current with the readings and participating regularly will benefit you as well as your fellow students. I will assume, however, that responsible adults do not need an attendance policy. If I haven't arrived within 15 minutes of the scheduled time for a class, you are free to leave.

There will be three tests, plus a final paper on an issue of interest in the history of psychology. Each test will consist of essay and short answer questions. A list of possible essay topics will be circulated during the class before each test.

In real emergency situations (illness, death of a family member, etc.) you may be excused from taking a test when scheduled. However, to be excused from taking a test on schedule, you must arrange the time and location of the makeup test with me before the time normally scheduled for the test.

Your grade will be based on this simple formula:

TEST 1 24%
TEST 2 24%
TEST 3 24%
FINAL PAPER 28%

Cheating: Tests and the paper in this course are meant to be your individual work. Providing information to others (or obtaining it from them) during a test--or using unauthorized notes on such occasions--constitutes cheating. You are welcome to discuss the paper with others, but the drafts and the final version must be your work alone. If you decide to cheat, I will take action against you according to University policy.

Extra credit:
I encourage you to participate in studies that take place in the Psychology Department during the semester. You will earn 1/4 point extra credit toward your final grade for each 15 minutes you participate in. The maximum is 3 points (for 12 15-minute units). You can sign up for research studies using the department subject pool Web site; I'll provide instructions later. Instead of participating in experiments you may complete a 3-page paper on an issue in the history of psychology, which will be worth up to 3 points extra credit. (If you choose the short paper, please let me know by February 15 so we can establish a topic and a due date).

Our Schedule

Date Topic Reading
Thursday January 10 Is Psychology a Science? Thorne and Henley Ch. 1
Tuesday January 15
[ Last day to add]		 Is Psychology a Science? / Ancient Greece Ch. 1, 2
Thursday January 17 Ancient Greece Ch. 2
Tuesday January 22
[Jan. 23 is the last day to drop without a W]		 Roman through Early Modern Times Ch. 3/4
Thursday January 24 Descartes Ch. 4
Tuesday January 29
Proposal for final paper due		 Descartes Ch. 4
Thursday January 31 TEST 1 Ch. 1-4
Tuesday February 5 Locke, Hume and Assocationism Ch. 4
Thursday February 7 Locke, Hume and Assocationism / Kant Ch. 4 / Ch. 5
Tuesday February 12 Kant Ch. 5
Thursday February 14 19th Century Physiology Ch. 6
Tuesday February 19 Wundt and Titchener Ch. 7
Tuesday February 19 Wundt and Titchener / Competing Schools in Germany Ch. 7
Thursday February 21 Competing Schools (in Germany) Ch. 8
Tuesday February 26 TEST 2 Ch. 5-8
Thursday February 28
[Feb. 29 is the last day to withdraw without final grade]		 Spencer, Darwin, and Galton Ch. 9
Tuesday March 4 Spencer, Darwin, and Galton Ch. 9
Thursday March 6 Pragmatism and Functionalism Ch. 10
Tuesday March 11 Functionalism and Applied Psychology Ch. 10-11
Thursday March 13 Objective Psychology and Early Behaviorism Ch. 12
Monday-Friday March 17-21 SPRING BREAK
Tuesday March 25 Transitions in Behaviorism Ch. 12, 13
Thursday March 27 Later Behaviorism Ch. 13
Tuesday April 1 Gestaltism Ch. 14
Thursday April 3 Gestaltism Ch. 14
Tuesday April 8 TEST 3 Ch. 9-15
Thursday April 10 Freud Ch. 15
Tuesday April 15 Freud Ch. 15
Thursday April 17 Clinical Psychology Ch. 16
Tuesday April 22 Piaget's Genetic Epistemology Ch. 18
Thursday April 24 Modern Cognitive Psychology Ch. 18
Monday April 28, 4:30 PM FINAL PAPER due

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