Psychology 3950F 001 FW24
History of Psychology
Western University
London Canada
Department of Psychology
Fall/Winter 2024
Psychology 3950F Section 001
History of Psychology
1 Calendar Description
A survey of the major ideas and scholars important to the development of Western psychology, examined from an historical and sociocultural perspective. Recommended for those thinking of graduate work in clinical psychology. CPA accredited programs require coursework on this topic and most will accept this course as fulfilling the criterion.
https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/academics/timetables.html
Antirequisite(s): Psychology 3893F/G (King's)
Prerequisite: Both Psychology 2801F/G (or one of Health Sciences 2801A/B, Psychology 2840F/G, Psychology 2855F/G) and Psychology 2811A/B (or one of Biology 2244A/B, Economics 2122A/B, Economics 2222A/B, Geography 2210A/B, Health Sciences 3801A/B, MOS 2242A/B, Psychology 2830A/B, Psychology 2850A/B, Sociology 2205A/B, Statistical Sciences 2035, Statistical Sciences 2141A/B, Statistical Sciences 2143A/B, Statistical Sciences 2244A/B, Statistical Sciences 2858A/B, the former Social Work 2207A/B), or the former Psychology 2820E, or both the former Psychology 2800E and the former Psychology 2810.
4 lecture/discussion hours; Course Weight: 0.5
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2 Course Information
Instructor: Krista Macpherson, Phd
Office and Phone Number: see Brightspace
Office Hours: By Appointment
Email: kmacphe6@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: TBA
Office: TBA
Office Hours: TBA
Email: TBA
Time and Location of Classes: see Student Centre for Timetable
For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.
3 Course Materials
Fancher, R. & Rutherford, A. Pioneers of Psychology, 5th Edition. New York: Norton
This text is mandatory for the course.
4 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
Psychology, historically, has evolved as a bridge between philosophy and physiology. In this course we will explore and discuss the philosophical background that has underpinned the development of the field of psychology. The emergence of psychology as a science will be explored and key historical figures discussed. The historical roots in the development and growth of sub-disciplines will conclude this course.
This course deviates from studying the discipline of psychology itself. It, instead, focuses on the ideas of key (psychological) historical figures, across various times, who have contributed to the development and evolution of thoughts, ideas and methodologies in the field of psychology over the centuries. As you will see, such ideas, theories, methods and findings are embedded within the lives and therefore contexts of these pioneers.
The course will follow a chronological order, as does the textbook. Taking a historical perspective will allow evaluation of why past ideas, which may now be discredited, appeared legitimate in their time. In contrast, although science, technology and access to information have markedly evolved over the years, ideas and attitudes of the early pioneers continue to recur in various forms as the field of psychology develops. Moreover, fundamental questions and ideas that intrigued earlier scholars continue to draw interest, often in evolved form, today.
Questions/themes addressed in the course include but are not limited to:
-What is the relationship between humans and non-human animals?
-What is the relationship between the “mind’ and the “body”
-Where does human knowledge come from?
-What is the nature of the mind? What is consciousness?
-What is the history of psychology as a science vs. psychology as an applied profession?
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Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
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Depth and Breadth of Knowledge
Present (orally) and demonstrate knowledge (in written form) of the history of psychology, including grounding in philosophy (and physiology), how it emerged as a science, and how this history has shaped the sub-disciplines of modern psychology. |
Lectures Independent Paper Group Projects |
Midterm Exam Final Exam Participation Marks Final Paper Group Presentation |
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Knowledge of Methodologies
Discussion of experimental and non-experimental approaches used in the development of psychology as a science. |
Lectures Independent Paper Group Projects |
Midterm Exam Final Exam Participation Marks Final Paper Group Presentation |
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Application of Knowledge
Demonstrate the ability to apply historical information and evidence to convey the historical development of a current day psychological concept. |
Lectures Independent Paper Group Projects |
Midterm Exam Final Exam Participation Marks
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Communication Skills
Be an active participant in understanding, exploring and presenting how the history of psychology evolved and how key questions or ideas in psychology have continued over time (albeit in evolved form). |
Independent Paper Group Projects |
Final Paper Group Presentation |
|
Awareness of Limits of Knowledge
Identify and critically discuss how a key question has persisted (in evolved form) across time in the study of psychology. |
Lectures Independent Paper Group Projects |
Midterm Exam Final Exam Participation Marks Final Paper Group Presentation |
|
Autonomy and Professional Capacity
Conduct independent and group research investigating the historical underpinnings, ideas and key figures / pioneers of a psychological concept drawn on today. |
Independent Paper Group Projects |
Final Paper Group Presentation |
5 Evaluation
Midterm: 25% of final mark
Final Exam: 25% of final mark
Final Essay (Due last day of the semester): 30% of final mark
Group Presentation: 15% of final mark
Participation: In Class Participation Questions (5%)
Grades will not be rounded.
Exams: The midterm and final exams will be a mixed format, including multiple choice, fill in the blank, short and long answer questions. Content of the final exam will focus on material learned after the midterm, however, major themes, concepts, and events discussed in the first half of the course must still be understood to perform well on the final exam.
Participation: Participation questions will be asked in each class and will count towards your participation mark. These will be relatively easy questions, meant to emphasize major themes or concepts (which will likely appear on exams!), and reward students for attending and engaging in lecture.
Essay: Each student will write an independent essay, on any topic or figure relevant to the history of psychology. Please get your topic approved by either the course instructor or TA. Specific grading criteria will be discussed in class, and a rubric will be available on Brightspace.
Group Presentation: Groups of 3-4 will be assigned during weeks 1 and 2 of the course, during which time a topic and presentation date will be determined for each group. All presenting group members will share the same score. Specific grading criteria will be discussed in class, and a rubric will be available on Brightspace.
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives
Policy on Missing Coursework
Exams: A makeup exam will be scheduled for both the midterm and final exam. Individuals who miss an exam will be allowed to write the makeup with approval from academic counselling, otherwise a mark of zero will be assigned.
Participation: At some point during every lecture, participation questions will be asked. Answers will be collected online via Brightspace (students should bring a laptop or tablet to lectures). The lowest 2 participation scores will be dropped (meaning that students can miss up to 2 lectures without academic penalty). There will therefore be absolutely no accommodation for missed participation questions. Attendance may be taken to verify that those individuals who have submitted a response are physically present in class.
Group Presentations: If a group member misses a their presentation, they will be assigned a take-home assignment based on their topic in lieu of the presentation score.
Essay: The essay is due at 11:59pm on the last day of classes. A late penalty of 5% per day will be applied to late submissions.
PLEASE NOTE: Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.
This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty.
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf
The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
Policy on Grade Rounding
Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.
6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule
Midterm (October 21st, 2024): 25% of final mark
Final Exam (During Final Exam Period): 25% of final mark
Final Essay (Due Dec 6th @11:59pm): 30% of final mark
Group Presentation (To be scheduled): 15% of final mark
Participation (in-class participation questions): 5% of final mark
7 Class Schedule
Tentative and Subject to change
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Date: |
Topic: |
Readings: |
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Sept 9th |
-Why study History? -Foundations of modern psychology |
Chapter 1 & 2 |
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Sept 16th |
Philosophers, physiologists, sensation & perception |
Chapter 3 & 4 |
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Sept 23rd |
The establishment of experimental psychology |
Chapter 5 |
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Sept 30th |
No lecture (Day for Truth and Reconciliation) |
Chapter 6 (Video recorded lecture will be posted) |
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Oct 7th |
Galton—measuring the mind; James--functionalism |
Chapter 7 & 8 |
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Oct 14th |
Thanksgiving—No Class |
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Oct 21st |
Midterm |
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Oct 28th |
Behaviourism |
Chapter 9 |
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Nov 4th |
Personality & social psychology |
Chapter 10 & 12 |
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Nov 11th |
Freud & Psychoanalysis |
Chapter 11 |
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Nov 18th |
Cognitive Assessment and Developmental Psychology |
Chapter 13 |
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Nov 25th |
Cognitive Psychology & Neuroscience |
Chapter 14 |
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Dec 2nd |
Clinical & applied psychology |
Chapter 15 & 16 |
8 Academic Integrity
Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
Statement on Use of Electronic Devices
Electronic devices are allowed during lecture. No electronic devices are allowed during exams.
Plagiarism Detection Software
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com.
Use of AI
The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.
Multiple Choice Exams
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
Exam Proctoring Software
Tests and examinations for online courses may be conducted using a remote proctoring service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote
Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca.
Personal Response Systems (“Clickers”)
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system, data collected will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed.
9 Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education
View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.
Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.
If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information. Email: aew@uwo.ca Phone: 519 661-2147
10 Absence & Academic Consideration
View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link
Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.
Medical Absences
Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.
Nonmedical Absences
Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Religious Consideration
Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.
11 Other Information
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement
Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions
Some or all the learning sessions for this course may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers. The recordings will be used for educational purposes related to this course, including evaluations. The recordings may be disclosed to other individuals participating in the course for their private or group study purposes. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns related to session recordings. Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.
12 Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.
