Psychology 415-1

Systems and Theories in Psychology
Spring 2010
Brackett Hall 121
TTh 12:30-1:45 PM

Revised April 12, 2010

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

Textbook:

John D. Greenwood. (2009). A Conceptual History of Psychology. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Course Description: Although psychology has been a distinct academic discipline for a little under 150 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.

Instead of tests, there will be a daily quiz, consisting of 1 to 4 questions, during every class except our very first (Thursday January 7). Barring an "inclement weather" issue, there will be 27 quizzes. You may drop 9 daily quiz grades for any reason; the average will be based on the remaining 18 quizzes. The volume of daily quizzes rules out make-ups, and I will not be able to return them to you; grades for the quizzes will be posted on Blackboard. In addition, there will be three short papers (about 5 pages each) on issues of your choice in the history of psychology.

Your grade will be based on this simple formula:

Average of daily quizzes 50%
Paper 1 16%
Paper 2 17%
Paper 3 17%

Cheating: Quizzes and papers in this course are meant to be your individual work. Providing information to others (or obtaining it from them) during a quiz--or using unauthorized notes on such occasions--constitutes cheating. You are welcome to discuss the papers with others, but drafts and the version you turn in 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 fourth 5-page paper on an issue in the history of psychology, which will be worth up to 3 points extra credit. (If you choose the fourth 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 7 Is Psychology a Science? Greenwood Ch. 1
Tuesday January 12
[ Last day to add]		 Is Psychology a Science? Ch. 1
Thursday January 14 Ancient Greece Ch. 2
Tuesday January 19
[Jan. 20 is the last day to drop without a W]		 Ancient Greece Ch. 2
Thursday January 21 Ancient Greece Ch. 2
Tuesday January 26
 Ancient Greece Ch. 2
Thursday January 28 Modern Science, Descartes and Hobbes Ch. 4
Paper 1 due
Tuesday February 2 Modern Science, Descartes and Hobbes Ch. 4
Thursday February 4 Modern Science, Descartes and Hobbes Ch. 4
Tuesday February 9 Locke, Hume and Assocationism Ch. 5
Thursday February 11 Locke, Hume and Assocationism Ch. 5
Tuesday February 16 Kant Ch. 5
Thursday February 18 Kant Ch. 5
Tuesday February 23 19th Century Physiology Ch. 6
Thursday February 25
[Feb. 26 is the last day to withdraw without final grade]		 19th Century Physiology Ch. 6
Tuesday March 2 Evolution and Evolutionary Psychology Ch. 7
Thursday March 4 Wundt and the German Schools Ch. 8
Tuesday March 9 Wundt and the German Schools Ch. 8
Thursday March 11 Pragmatism and the American Schools Ch. 9
Paper 2 due
Monday-Friday March 15-19 SPRING BREAK
Tuesday March 23 Pragmatism and the American Schools Ch. 9
Thursday March 25 Pragmatism and the American Schools Ch. 9
Tuesday March 30 Early Behaviorism and Mental Testing Ch. 10
Thursday April 1 Early Behaviorism and Mental Testing Ch. 10
Tuesday April 6 Later Behaviorism Ch. 11
Thursday April 8 Later Behaviorism Ch. 11
Tuesday April 13 Modern Cognitive Psychology Ch. 12
Thursday April 15 Modern Cognitive Psychology Ch. 12
Tuesday April 20 Abnormal and Clinical Psychology Ch. 13
Thursday April 22 Abnormal and Clinical Psychology Ch. 13
Tuesday April 27, 4:30 PM Paper 3 due

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