HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY: SENIOR SEMINAR

Catalog description

This course traces the history of psychology from its ancient past to its intriguing present, beginning with its philosophical roots in Greek/Roman classicism and medieval scholasticism, through Renaissance ingenuity and Enlightenment ideologies, to its modern scientific foundations and contemporary systems/schools of thought. Throughout, psychology is considered as a fragmented field in search of a unifying paradigm, within which five broad streams of thought might be discerned (biological, empirical, functional, humanistic, idealistic), with a central emphasis on psychological theory, research, and practice (human science, natural science, and applied science). The reciprocal contributions of famous figures within the cultural context of time and place are also highlighted. In pondering p ersons, the philosophical assumptions underlying the theories are examined in the light of Catholic philosophy and theology. This capstone course also requires completion of the senior thesis research paper and presentation. Prerequisites: PSYC 201, PSYC 205.