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Discovering the Person: History of the Psychological Sciences surveys major developments in psychology and psychiatry from 1880-1980 with the aim of exploring the kinds of persons that were "discovered", the techniques of discovery, and the consequences for public and private practices. We examine characteristics of the new person emerging from these sciences including irrationality, complex sexuality, cognitive fallibilities, mechanical emotional processes, neurotic risks, challenged intelligence, complicity, addictive tendencies, and receding if not nonexistent will. We explore historical interpretations of psychological persons, from realist to dynamic nominalist and social constructionist interpretations, and consider the forms of historical evidence needed to understand the century-long process of finding and naming psychological kinds and characteristics. Attention is given to both modes of producing this knowledge (aggregate methods, case study, and theories) and dynamic relations of this knowledge and cultural conditions. Readings include primary source materials (example: James' introductory psychology text: Terman's study of intelligence, Maslow's writing on hierarchy of needs), histories of the disciplines (example: Roger Smith's HISTORY OF THE HUMAN SCIENCES), accounts of particular psychological subjects (example: Ian Hacking's history of multiple personality), and efforts to resist or challenge these scientific classifications. Students undertake a historical project on a selected problem in the history of modern psychology.
COURSE FORMAT: Seminar
Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA CHUM Grading Mode: Graded
Prerequisites: PSYC105 OR PSYC101 OR HIST253 OR HIST254
Last Updated on MAR-19-2004
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459