PSY 3105a - History and Systems of Psychology

(1.5 units)

In this course, students examine the interaction between the scientific and philosophical roots of major schools and systems of western and non-western psychology and their application to learning and behavior. In the western tradition, principles of the classical perspectives of structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, social learning, and psychoanalysis are presented and compared, with emphasis on their relevance and contributions to professional psychology. In non-western traditions, the teachings of Vedanta, psychosynthesis, and transpersonal psychology will be highlighted and compared to western teachings. We will consider how cultural and political forces shaped the development of these various psychological theories.