PSYN 210

Modern Psychology in Historical Perspective

Mercy College, Fall 2014

Online Course

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Gina M. Torto, Psy.D.

PHONE: (607) 222-5779 *Please do not call me after 9:00 PM*

E-MAIL: gtorto@mercymavericks.edu

or g_torto@yahoo.com

**Pre-requisite: Psychology 101**

Course Description:

An analysis of the major systematic viewpoints in the history of psychology. (3 semester hours, 3 credits).

REQUIRED TEXT:

Hergenhahn, B.R. (2009). An Introduction to the History of Psychology. (7th Ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth/ Thompson Publishing Company.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Contemporary Psychology did not arise in a vacuum, but in a historical context; the theories, data, and
controversies of psychology have their roots in the history of ideas. To understand and contribute to the
field of psychology, an appreciation of the contribution of philosophy, the natural and physical sciences,
and early psychology is crucial. We will focus on those ideas that are relevant for present-day psychology.
We will concentrate on dichotomous issues such as mind-body, empirical-rationalism, reason-emotion,
behavior-thought, free will-determination, and theory-practice.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Students will be expected to exhibit academic honesty in all course related
activities. It is the students responsibility to know what is academically honest, and dishonest behavior
(e.g., plagiarism). Avoid plagiarism by always citing your sources whenever you borrow someone else's
words or ideas, directly by using quotations, or indirectly by paraphrasing. A student found cheating or
engaged in any other form of academic dishonesty will receive an F for that assignment, and repeated
incidents may result in an F for the course.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

WRITTEN RESPONSE QUESTIONS (50 %): As each unit is presented 2 questions will be given based
on the material. One question will be due by midnight on Wednesday of the Unit week and one will be due
on Saturday of the Unit week. Each question should be answered in a minimum of 2 paragraphs (12
font). This should reflect about of a standard 8 X 11 page. Questions will be graded on content,
clarity and grammar. You should include information that was presented in the book (and/or other
sources) and make sure it is clearly understood. When these questions are posted, I will also include the
submission due dates. You have until Midnight on that date to submit answers. Any answers received
after this time will receive no credit. These questions should be sent to me in the Assignment Tool
section. Important: Be sure to send ONLY me these written response questions. Many students in the
past have had problems making these due dates. Keep in mind that if you hand in assignments early (not
the day of the deadline) you will not have to worry if a crisis comes on the due date.

TERM PAPER (30%): You will be required to write a 4-6 page paper (double-spaced, font size 12, 1
margins) choosing two theorists and providing a brief biography on each particular theories. This should
include a description of some of their most important contributions to the field of Psychology. Information
should be obtained from your text book, in addition to a minimum of TWO outside references, which must
be cited, using APA Format, in a reference list at the end of your papers. (Note: This does not count as a
page of your paper). This will also be submitted using the Assignment Tool section.

CLASS PARTICIPATION IN INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS (20%): Each week there will be informal
discussions related to the material. This discussion will be posted by me and other students, and are due
by midnight on Sunday for that weekly Unit. In the Communication tools section on the Home page you
will see discussions. If you click on this you will see a folder for each unit. In these folders will be
questions and discussions submitted by your colleagues. You are required to make at least 2 submissions
a week in the Discussion folders that relate to the unit that we are up to (i.e. 2 submissions/week in the
Unit 1 folder when we are up to Unit 1. Responses to other students are counted as submissions as well.
The quality of these submissions is also important. Each week your submissions will be checked for
length and content. If you do not have 2 quality submissions, you will not get credit for that week's
participation. You will receive feedback from me early on regarding your progress in quality of these
submissions. Quality means that the responses are in depth and add something new to the discussion.

EVALUATION:

Final grades will be based on the total number of points earned in the following evaluation components:

1. 50 pts Written Response Questions

2. 30 pts. Term Paper

3. 20 pts. Class participation in informal discussion

100 pts. Total

The following grading cutoffs will be used:

A 93-100%

A- 90-92

B+ 87-89

B 83-86

B- 80-82

C+ 77-79

C 73-76

C- 70-72

F 63& Below

IMPORTANT DATES:
November 26th-November 30th: Closed for Thanksgiving Recess
December 14th: Term Paper Due
Please contact the helpdesk with questions regarding navigating the course: 914-674-7526. Questions
regarding course content and requirements should be sent to me in the Course Email or at 607-222-5779.
**Please keep in mind that this is not an easy course. Distance learning classes require more
participation, more writing, and more independent research than other course.

Other Important Information:

-The units are set up in the course material section (Click on course material) of the distance learning
program. Each unit that is available to you will have it's own folder in the table of contents. In the folder
there will be two documents to read: The question for that Unit, and once the week is over, the lecture
notes will be released to you and will include a summary and my notes regarding the Chapter. The
questions are the written response questions that must be answered and submitted to me. Lecture notes
will be posted at the end of the week we are covering to summarize that weeks Chaper(s).
-Check for new material regularly (at least 3 times per week). Check all folders that indicate new
material including the course content, discussion list, assignment tool and course email sections.
-Please contact me on a regular basis if you have any problems (in the course email section you can
send a message to me.) Get help early and often if you are having trouble keeping up or do not
understand a concept. I cannot give help on all topics the week before an exam.... so pace yourself and
keep up with the work.
OUTLINE OF COURSE SCHEDULE:
Class Date: Material
Wednesday, September 3: Syllabus, Introduction of Course
Weeks assignment: Read Chapter 1, Introduction, pgs. 1-28
Saturday, September 6th: Written Response Post due: Unit 1A
Monday, September 8th: Written Response Post due: Unit 1B
Monday September 8th: Acknowledgement of Syllabus Due
Monday, September 8th: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 2, The Early Greek Philosophers, pgs. 29-66
Wednesday, September 10th: Written Response Post due: Unit 2A
Saturday, September 13: Written Response Post due: Unit 2B
Sunday, September 14: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, September 15: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 4, The Beginnings of Modern Science and
Philosophy, pgs. 101-132
Wednesday, September 17: Written Response Post due: Unit 3A

Saturday, September 20: Written Response Post due: Unit 3B

Sunday, September 21: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, September 22: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 7, Romanticism and Existentialism, pgs. 207231
Wednesday, September 24: Written Response Post due: Unit 4A
Saturday, September 27: Written Response Post due: Unit 4B
Sunday, September 28: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, September 29: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 8, Early Developments in Physiology and the
Rise of Experimental Psychology pgs. 232-261
Wednesday, October 1st: Written Response Post due: Unit 5A
Saturday, October 4: Written Response Post due: 5B
Sunday, October 5: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, October 6: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 9, Voluntarism, Structuralism, and Other Early
Approaches to Psychology, pgs. 262- 292
Wednesday, October 8: Written Response Post due: Unit 6A
Saturday, October 11: Written Response Post due: Unit 6B
Sunday, October 12: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, October 13: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 10, The Darwinian Influence and the Rise of
Mental Testing, pgs. 293-333
Wednesday, October 15: Written Response Post due: Unit 7A
Saturday, October 18: Written Response Post due: Unit 7B
Sunday, October 19: Information Discussion Posts Due

Monday, October 20: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 11, Functionalism, pgs. 334-383
Wednesday, October 22: Written Response Post due: Unit 8A
Saturday, October 25: Written Response Post due: Unit 8B
Sunday, October 26: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, October 27: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 12, Behaviorism, pgs. 384-422
Wednesday, October 29: Written Response Post due: Unit 9A
Saturday, November 1: Written Response Post due: Unit 9B
Sunday, November 2: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, November 3: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 13, Neobehaviorism, pgs. 423-454
Wednesday, November 5: Written Response Post due: Unit 10A
Saturday, November 8: Written Response Post due: Unit 10 B
Sunday, November 9: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, November 10: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 14, Gestalt Psychology, pgs. 456- 485
Wednesday, November 12: Written Response Post due: Unit 11A
Saturday, November 15: Written Response Post due: Unit 11B
Sunday, November 16: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, November 17: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 15, Early Diagnosis, Explanation. and
Treatment of Mental Illness, pgs. 486-514
Wednesday, November 19: Written Response Post due: Unit 12A
Saturday, November 22: Written Response Post due: Unit 12B

Sunday, November 23: Information Discussion Posts Due

Wednesday, November 26th - Sunday, November 30th: Thanksgiving Recess: Have a great
Recess!!!
Monday, December 1: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 16, Psychoanalysis, pgs. 515- 551
Wednesday, December 3: Written Response Post due: Unit 13A
Saturday, December 6: Written Response Post due: Unit 13B
Sunday, December 7: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, December 8 : Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 17, Early Alternatives to Psychoanalysis pgs.
552-569
Wednesday, December 10: Written Response Post due: Unit 14A
Saturday, December 13: Written Response Post due: Unit 14B
Sunday, December 14: Information Discussion Posts Due
Monday, December 15: Weeks Assignment: Read Chapter 21, Contemporary Psychology, pgs. 643-664
Wednesday, December 17: Written Response Post due: Unit 15A
Saturday, December 14: TERM PAPERS ARE DUE

**If you are having difficulty with this course, Mercy College offers peer tutoring in all subjects through the
Learning Centers at each Mercy location. You are encouraged to utilize these support networks, as
needed. In addition, I am available via email or phone to discuss any difficulties you may be having with
the course material.