A Critical History and Philosophy of Psychology: Diversity of Context, Thought, and Practice

by Richard T. G. Walsh

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Author: Richard T. G. Walsh

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Paperback:
ISBN 10: 0521691265
ISBN 13: 978-0521691260

In line with the British Psychological Society's recent recommendations for teaching the history of psychology, this comprehensive undergraduate textbook emphasizes the philosophical, cultural and social elements that influenced psychology's development. The authors demonstrate that psychology is both a human (i.e. psychoanalytic or phenomenological) and natural (i.e. cognitive) science, exploring broad social-historical and philosophical themes such as the role of diverse cultures and women in psychology, and the complex relationship between objectivity and subjectivity in the development of psychological knowledge. The result is a fresh and balanced perspective on what has traditionally been viewed as the collected achievements of a few 'great men'. With a variety of learning features, including case studies, study questions, thought experiments and a glossary, this new textbook encourages students to critically engage with chapter material and analyze themes and topics within a social, historical and philosophical framework.

Review

"A much-needed text whose extraordinary depth and breadth of perspective skilfully invites thought on the part of the reader."
Kurt Danziger, Professor Emeritus, York University, Canada

"Teachers who are drawn to the History of Psychology course because they seek alternatives to the research consensus of the day will relish this text and its critical history and philosophy perspective. The authors encourage students to ask 'what is history?', 'what is psychology?' and 'what is science?'. The answers they find are complex, but the authors gently and authoritatively guide their readers along. The result will be students who know more than dates, names, and a progression of theories."
Ben Harris, University of New Hampshire

"This marks a qualitative shift in the nature of textbooks in this field and will perhaps finally succeed in establishing how essential it is for students of psychology. The authors have done a brilliant, wide-ranging job in covering the crucial historical and philosophical issues in an original - and dare one say, learned - way."
Graham Richards, Professor of History of Psychology, Staffordshire University (retired)

"The organization of the text is refreshing ... This is a book that everyone who teaches the history of psychology should read."
PsycCRITIQUES

Book Description

This textbook takes an international and contextualized approach to the history and philosophy of psychological thought. It acquaints students with the roots, concepts, and practices of both natural-science and human-science Psychology to foster critical thinking about the discipline.

About the Author

Richard T. G. Walsh is Professor of Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Thomas Teo is a Professor of Psychology at York University, Toronto.

Dr Angelina Baydala is an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Psychology and a registered clinical psychologist in private practice in Edmonton, Alberta.

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A Critical History and Philosophy of Psychology: Diversity of Context, Thought, and Practice