Mark,
Traditionally there are two basic ways to teach history of psych. Starting in the ancient world (typically skipping over most of the Medieval era, though I personally think that this is a mistake), or starting around 1800 (usually with a preliminary nod or two to Descartes, Locke, Kant and couple of other Enlightenment philosophers).
Thomas Leahey's book is, I think, particularly well-respected among historians of psych. Wayne Viney's and Jim Goodwin's are as well. Hergenhahn's is very popular among teachers. They all take, more or less, the traditional "intellectual" approach to history (focusing on theories and broader approaches, giving less play to the influences of social, politcal, and cultural trends). Dan Robinson's _An Intellectual History of Psychology_ is a considerably more difficult book than the others (it assumes that students are pretty familiar with Western Civ), but he makes, I think, some very interesting and counter-intuitive claims that can get good discussions going (e.g., in preface to the 2nd ed., he said that all the basic psychological positions were in place, more or less, by about 1750, our own era just adding some technology and data). If you're interested in the Ancient world, you might look at my and Phil Groff's _Early Psychological Thought: Anicent Accounts of Mind and Soul._. It is intended for an audience with no training in ancient philosophy, and lays in a lot of the political-military historical background side by side with intellectual developments. (Of course, this would have to be paired with a more traditional text as it only goes up to around AD 400.)
Interesting alternative approaches can be found in some other books. Ray Fancher's _Pioneers of Psychology_ is primarily biographical in approach. Each chapter focuses on a central individual and traces that person's life and career. Students often find this approach more engaging than the "intellectual" approach. As a paperback, this book can be added to a traditional hardback textbook without significantly increasing students' costs ($24.50 new). For something with a more socio-political edge, you should check out Graham Richards' _Putting Psychology in its Place: an introduction from a critical historical perspective_.
Ludy Benjamin's _History of Psychology: Original Sources and Contemporary Research_ as well as his _History of Psychology in Letters_ will give students a taste of primary source materials as well as real current scholarship (as opposed to textbookship) in the field. They may be too advanced for most undergrads, but could certainly enrich a course based on a more traditional text. Benjamin has also (w/ David Baker) recently published a text that focuses on the hsitory of *professional* psychology called _From S�ance to Science_ which might also make a good suplement to one of the tradtional textbooks.
You might want to take a look at Roger Smith's _Norton History of the Human Sciences_ (in the US, _Fontana History..._ most everywhere else). It shows unlike any other book how all of the social/behavioral/human sciences developed more or less undifferentiated from each other, each distinguishing itself only gradually. The account of cross-currents among (what we now think of as) law, economics, political science, sociology, psychology, etc.. which is absent form most other books, is fascinating. At something like 900 pp., it is probably too much for most undergrad courses, but one might select extracts.
Another interesting book is Wolfgang Bringmann, et al.'s _Pictorial history of Psychology_. Very short, lavishly illustrated, chapters on practically every aspect of psychology one can imagine. Probably not great as a stand-alone text in an undergrad course, but a source from which you can draw to liven up your lectures.
And don't forget to assign at least SOME primary source reading material to your class. You can find loads of it free and on-line at my "Classics in the History of Psychology" website: http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/
Hope this helps. Best, -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: 416-736-5115 ext. 66164 fax: 416-736-5814 http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ============================
Mark S. Schmidt wrote:
Colleagues, I'm teaching History and Systems for the first time this summer. Could you recommend a text? I'm looking at several right now that are all very similar in their coverage. Are there any that you have found to be especially good in any ways?
Thanks! Mark
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