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The Unconscious Mind (PSYC30012)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Subject Coordinator
ykashima@unimelb.edu.au
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
enquiry-psych@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Ever since Freud, the unconscious mind has been a critical part of our understanding of the human mind and behaviour. Despite its power to captivate popular imagination, scientific psychology's treatment of unconsciousness has a history of vicissitudes. This subject has three main components: historical background, contemporary theory and research, and applications and implications in contemporary culture and society. First, the subject traces the historical origin and subsequent development of the idea of the unconscious mind in psychological theories and practice. In so doing, Freud's notion of unconsciousness, as well as lesser known, but critically important theorists' contributions are examined and their contemporary implications are discussed. Second, the modern methods used in the contemporary examination of unsconcious processes are introduced, and the current understanding of psychological unconsciousness is discussed from neuroscientific, perceptual, cognitive, developmental, social, and clinical perspectives. Third, we survey the uses of the scientific understanding of unconscious processes in a variety of applied contexts and explore implications of the psychological knowledge about the unconscious mind in contemporary culture and society. This includes a critical examination of the evidence for the role of unconscious processes in abnormal human behaviour and discussions about implications of the unconscious mind for identity and responsibility.
Intended learning outcomes
The subject aims to:
- give students the opportunity to critically review theories of the unconscious throughout the history of psychology
- evaluate the methodologies used to investigate the unconscious mind
- interpret empirical research findings; and present a reasoned argument concerning the place of the unconscious mind in contemporary psychological theory and more broadly within contemporary culture and society
Generic skills
Students will be given appropriate opportunity and educational support to develop skills to:
- think critically and apply analytical skills to new issues
- appraise current knowledge and its internal structure
- evaluate methods used to acquire current knowledge
- appropriately interpret empirical data in the light of current knowledge and methodological considerations
- communicate ideas concisely
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required for this subject
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
512301 The Unconscious Mind
Recommended background knowledge
Prior coursework in at least two Level 2 psychology subjects is recommended. Level 2 psychology subjects are: Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Personality & Social Psychology.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Additional details
Written work of 2000 words (45%) to be submitted during semester.
Mid semester feedback assessment (10%).
An examination of no more than two hours (45%) to be completed at the end of semester during the specified University examination period.
Each piece of assessment must be completed (hurdle requirement).
Attendance of at least 80% of the laboratory classes is a hurdle requirement. In case of failure to meet the hurdle requirement, additional work will be required before a passing grade can be awarded.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Yoshihisa Kashima Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2017 to 28 May 2017 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2017 Census date 31 March 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2017 Assessment period ends 23 June 2017 Semester 1 contact information
Subject Coordinator
ykashima@unimelb.edu.auMelbourne School of Psychological Sciences
enquiry-psych@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment for this subject is 170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
No prescribed text. A reading pack will be made available.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Psychology Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI and B-ENG. Major Psychology Major Psychology - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 11 April 2024