FALL 2008 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF APPLIED AND PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY OUTLINE OF COURSE ON SYSEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY 820 550 Instructor Dan Fishman Ph D 732 445 2000 x134 emails dfish96198 aol com dfishman rutgers gmail com fax 603 917 2567 http www rci rutgers edu dfishman http pcsp libraries rutgers edu Home 57 Jaffray Court Irvington NY 10533 914 693 8549 fax 603 917 2567 A Goals of the Course 1 To explore some of the traditional content topics of history and systems in psychology For example A To view psychoanalysis behaviorism and humanistic psychology as systems of thought B To review the history of psychology C To explore the nature of philosophical positions such as logical positivism phenomenology social constructionism and hermeneutics D To explore the nature of traditional philosophical doctrines such as empiricism versus rationalism objectivism versus subjectivism and positivism versus pragmatism E To explore the nature of traditional philosophical dilemmas such as free will versus determinism the mind body problem and the fact versus value problem 2 To explore the process of philosophical analysis and dialogue 3 To clarify the differences among three branches of philosophy epistemology ontology and moral and ethical philosophy 4 To present in a formal manner the idea of perspectivism the notion that in psychology any particular experience or behavior can be legitimately perceived and interpreted from multiple at times mutually incompatible points of view 5 To explore the implications of 4 namely that perspectivism should bring attitudes of modesty and relativism in our approach to psychological research and practice 6 To explore the broader context of 4 and 5 in terms of the development of postmodernism in the larger culture Philosophy Systems Fall 2008 09 03 08 p 2 7 To explore and apply three typologies of perspectives A Fishman s Epistemological Paradigms including the Positivist Pragmatic and Hermeneutic Paradigms with special emphasis upon the Pragmatic B Altman and Rogoff s World Views including the Trait Interactional Organismic and Transactional World Views C Gergen s Conceptions of the Self including the Romanticist Modernist and Postmodern models 8 Overall to stimulate interest in the history of ideas perspective 9 Overall to develop the ability to examine critically different epistemological and theoretical approaches in professional psychology 10 To bring some of the above perspectives to critically reading and reviewing the literature associated with Clinical Comps Question 4A Psychotherapy Integration and Question 5 Empirically Supported Treatments Evidence Based Practice 11 NOTE An important overarching theme will be to explore the above goals from the perspective of pragmatic psychology and the pragmatic case study as they emerge from the pragmatic paradigm see item 7 A above B Format of the Course 1 The first 9 sessions will focus primarily on critically reviewing the assigned readings and using the readings as a stimulus for discussion In line with this the instructor will frequently assume a Socratic stance Students should therefore prepare for class by reading the assigned material and bringing to class questions and critical reactions to it also see item E 2 below 2 The next 5 sessions will consist of student summaries or progress reports on their final papers which will be broadly based upon issues raised earlier in class and the readings Typically if the student has a particular interest related to psychology the instructor can find a way to create a topic relevant to the themes of the course So search for a topic that really engages your intellectual and professional passions Note 1 Generally the earlier the presentation the more it will be progress report allowing input for developing the final paper Each presentation will be schedule for the full class Note 2 The student paper is frequently a vehicle for developing potential dissertation ideas In the past a number of students have used this opportunity as part of the conceptual basis of their final dissertation project 3 The last session will be devoted to a summary and integration 4 Sample Student Paper Titles from the Past see assignment E 3 E 4 below a b c h Morality Is It Up for Discussion Two Perspectives on Morality Today Multipheminism A Postmodern View of the Women s Movement A Sessional Analysis of the Manualized Treatment of a Bulimic Client from Three Epistemological Paradigms Logical Positivist Pragmatic and Hermeneutic A Pragmatic Approach to Lesbian Pregnancy Philosophy Systems Fall 2008 09 03 08 p 3 i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa bb cc dd ee ff gg hh ii jj kk The Black Progress Question in America The Unanticipated Consequences of the Civil Rights Movement and Its Implications for Psychotherapy Brazil s Central Station A Postmodern Approach Religion and Psychology in the Postmodern Era Postmodern Spirituality and Psychotherapy Integrating Eastern Traditions with Western Theories of Psychology and Mental Health Philosophical Implications Pop Politics in a Postmodern Period Romanticism Modernism and Post Modernism Biblical Interpretation and the Evolution of Orthodox Judaism Postmodernism Engendered The Case for a Masculine Psychology The Impact of Colonization and History on Therapeutic Relationships and Interventions with Filipino Clients Trait Interactional and Pragmatic Worldviews The Pragmatics of Psychology in the Courtroom Reality TV How Do We Feel and Think About It Hispanic Clients in Therapy Modern vs Postmodern Views A Comparison of Positivist and Pragmatic Approaches to Developing a Therapy Program for Conduct Disorder A Postmodern Feminist Perspective on Shifting Gender Roles Aware and Deconstructed Self Comparing Buddhist and Psychoanalytic Thought A Pragmatic Perspective on the Journalistic Case Study Upon This Rock Miracles of a Black Church Infertility and Psychology A Call for Organismic Theory A Child in Therapy Who s in Charge Offenders Families Communities A Pragmatic Solution to a Modern Dilemma Same Sex Header Families Examples of Postmodern Family Structure An Epistemological Exploration of Multimodal Questionnaire Construction for Couples The Question of Evil A Modern Issue in a Postmodern World A Postmodern view of Childrearing Practices in 20th Century America Modern and Postmodern Perspectives on Aging Improving Therapists Experiences in Working with Issues of Sexuality in Therapy Designing A Postmodernly and Psychoanalytically Informed Interview