| CODE | MRT5841 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Foundational Theories of Psychology | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Moral Theology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces students to three major paradigms of psychology: (i) pyschoanalysis; (ii) humanist-existentialism; (iii) behaviourism. By introducing the major theoretical tenets pertaining to these different paradigms, this study-unit provides the foundation of psychological knowledge required for a better understanding of the human person in his/her purely psychological make-up. An important objective is that students are exposed to the underlying principles, values, and attitudes that are typically associated with the major proponents of these different theories. The following areas will be covered: Part 1: Psychoanalysis (Theories of Personality, Freud, Jung, Object Relations Theories); Part 2: Humanist-Existentialism (Maslow, Existentialist Psychology); Part 3: Behaviourism (Cognitive Behaviour Psychology). Study-Unit Aims: - To introduce the three major paradigms of psychology, their proponents, and the key concepts associated with each; - To illustrate how each paradigm evolved; - To investigate different scenarios applying different concepts within these paradigms. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify the major theorists of the three psychological paradigms discussed in class; - Explain the key concepts in each paradigm, based on its underlying philosophy, how these operate, and how they are inter-related and developed over time; - Establish how personality development and distress are conceptualised across the main theories of psychology. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply the theoretical framework of these paradigms to life situations; - Solve different life challenges through different psychological skills associated with each of the three paradigms; - Compare the merits and limits of each paradigm. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Calvin S. Hall, Gardner Lindzey, John B. Campbell, Theories of Personality, 4th ed. (New York: J. Wiley & Sons, 1997). - Gregory J. Feist et alii (eds.), Theories of Personality, 10th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2021). Supplementary Readings: Part 1: - Sigmund Freud, The Ego and the Id, standard edition, trans. Joan Riviere, ed. James Strachey (New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1990). - Anthony W. Bateman et alii (eds.), Introduction to Psychoanalysis: Contemporary Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. (London: Routledge, 2021). Part 2: - Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning (New York: Pocket Books, 1997). Alexander Batthyany and Pninit Russo-Netzer (eds.), Meaning in Positive and Existential Psychology, foreword by Brian R. Little (New York: Springer, 2014). Part 3: - John Watson, “Psychology as the behavorist views it,” Psychological Review 20, no. 2 (1913): 158-177. Donald Robertson, The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Stoic Philosophy as Rational and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 2nd ed. (London: Routledge, 2020). |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Paul Galea |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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