Psychology 4910: Systems in Contemporary Psychology

Fall 2021
Instructor: Dr. Mark Hebert
Office: SN-3094
Phone: 864-3436
e-mail: mhebert@mun.ca
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursdays 2:00- 3:00 pm, or by appointment

This course will consider various paradigms in contemporary psychology in the context of their
historical antecedents. That is, we will discuss in detail the roots of Psychology as a science. In
that vein, we will focus on specific paradigms, schools of thought, and individuals that shaped
science and Psychology.

Prerequisites: 30 credit hours in Psychology courses required in the majors program and
admission to a Major in Psychology or Behavioural Neuroscience.

Text: Benjafield, John, G. (2015). A History of Psychology (4th edition). Don Mills, ON: Oxford
University Press

We will (attempt to) cover the following chapters:

1) Psychology and History

2) Touchstones: The Origins of Psychological Thought
3) Touchstones: From Descartes to Darwin
4) The Nineteenth-Century Transformation of Psychology
5) Wundt and His Contemporaries
6) William James
7) Freud and Jung
8) Structure or Function
9) Behaviourism
10) Gestalt Psychology and the Social Field
11) Research Methods
12) Theories of Learning
13) The Developmental Point View
14) Humanistic Psychology
15) Cognitive Psychology

Course Website: MUN Brightspace.

Evaluation: Term Test 1 (Oct 8th) 20% Chapters 1-6

th
Term Test 2 (Nov 15 ) 20% Chapters 7-12
Assignment (Nov 5th) 20%
Final (TBD) 40% Cumulative
Note: Dates may vary slightly. There will be no make-up exams or papers in this course. If you
miss an exam/assignment due to a legitimate reason, those marks will be added onto your final
exam.

Method of Instructional Continuity should courses be disrupted due to COVID-19: Courses

will transition to remote delivery via Brightspace (posted videos). Exams be conducted remotely
via Brightspace. If exams or assignments are to be cancelled, you will be notified via
Brightspace.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Accommodations are provided within the
scope of the University Policies for the Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
(www.mun.ca/policy/site/policy.php?id=239). Students who may need an academic
accommodation are asked to initiate the request with the Glenn Roy Blundon Centre at the
earliest opportunity (www.mun.ca/blundon). Phone: 864-6787.

Academic Integrity: Students are expected to adhere to those principles which constitute proper
academic conduct. A student has the responsibility to know which actions, as described under
Academic Offences in the University Regulations, could be construed as dishonest or improper.
Students found guilty of an academic offence may be subject to a number of penalties
commensurate with the offence including reprimand, reduction of grade, probation, suspension
or expulsion from the University. For more information regarding this policy, students should
refer to the University Regulations for Academic Misconduct (Section 6.12) in the University
Calendar.