Cursos / 1º Ciclo / Institute of Psychology and Educational Sciences :: Psychology

MODELOS CONSTRUTIVISTAS E CONSTRUCIONISTAS SOCIAIS - 2016/2017

3º curricular year
Semestralidade: 1st semester
ECTS: 3

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Mestre Armando Pinho
Assistant Professor: Mestre Armando Pinho

Class type and School hours

Teórico-prática : 2 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

Inform and systematize knowledge on theoretical and methodological models of psychological intervention in the context of constructivist, social constructionist and critical psychology perspectives.
Provide the epistemological and conceptual matrices for the initial understanding of emerging scientific paradigms in the field of psychology.
Increase knowledge and promote critical analysis of the complex panorama of contemporary theories and practices of psychological research and intervention.

Specific Aims/Objectives

Differentiate and compare at different levels of understanding the psychological models presented: metatheoric; conceptual and methodological.
Provide representative examples of paradigmatic models and authors for each perspective.
Instill a sustained, critical analysis of the models presented.
Promote training in the application of concepts and methodologies referred to, in the resolution of hypothetical situations.
Instilling depth and future explorations of the cited models.

Skills to be acquired

Recognize and map these theories and models historically and epistemologically.
Identify and summarize these psychological perspectives’ key concepts, theoretical and methodological characteristics.
Understand their main ontological, epistemological and axiomatic foundational.
Differentiate, analyze and apply appropriately the conceptions formulated in relation to psychological functioning and dysfunction, behavioral change/ transformation processes and techniques of psychological intervention.

Teaching Procedures

Multimedia lectures of the syllabus. Readings and discussion of selected topics and books.
Practical exercises to apply concepts and theories.
Monitoring and supervision of a written essay about a specific topic of the syllabus.

Programme

A- Characterization of postmodern paradigm in Psychology

1. Main influences, contributions and key concepts of postmodern psychology.
a. The context of philosophical and scientific thought.
b. The value of pluralistic, dialogic, contextual and pragmatic (action) approaches.
c. Postmodernism in Psychopathology and Psychotherapy: crisis on realism, mental illness and self.

2. Narratives and discursive perspectives of psychology.

B- Historical-epistemological framework of constructivist approach

1. Constructive-developmental models’ contributions:
a) Personal constructs theory - George Kelly (1955).
b) Jean Piaget (1896-1980) and Lev Vygostky (1896-1934) foundational theories.
c) The importance of developmental and cultural dimensions of the theories and models of Jerome Bruner (1915-) e Allen Ivey (1933-).

2. The evolution of cognitive sciences and cognitive revolutions.

3. Main constructivist theories and models:
a) Pos-racionalist cognitive/constructivist therapy - Vittorio Guidano (1987)
b) Hubert J. M. Hermans’ Model(1992): dialogical self theory (therapeutic and educational applications).
c) Robert A. Neimeyer (2001): reconstruction of meaning theory (loss and grief).

C- Historical-epistemological framework of social constructionist and critical approaches.

1. The main importance of Michel Foucault’s theory (1926-1984), post-structuralism thought and critical theory.

2. Social constructionist conceptualizations of self-identity and therapeutic process:
a) Kenneth Gergen (1991), Mary Gergen (2001) and Sheila McNamee (1992) constributions.
b) Reflectivity and political criticism on social constructionism – Carla Willig (1999), Ian Parker (1999).

3. Major social constructionist theories and models:
a) Re-authoring narrative therapy - Michael White & David Epston (1990);
b) Solution focused therapy - Steve De Shazer (1991);
c) Collaborative Therapy Model - Harlene Andersen & Harold Goolishian (1992);
d) Performative Psychology and Social Therapy Model - Lois Holzman & Fred Newman (1996);
e) Strenth-centered counseling - Y. Joel Wong (2011).

4. Critical Psychology – foundations, key concepts and applications:
a) Klaus Holzkamp’ first contributions (1983) and German Critical Psychology.
b) Critical psychology, new subjetivities and identity politics– Valerie Walkerdine (2002).
c) Critical discrusive psychoogy and Ian Parker’s contribute (1997).
d) Feminist, LGBT and Queer critical psychology: Erika Apfelbaum (1979), Erika Burman (1990) e Mary Gergen (2001); Celia Kitzinger (1987); Judith Butler (1993), Eve Sedgewick (1993) and Teresa De Lauretis (1991).

Evaluation Type

Continuous assessment:
1- Frequency of 70% of classes
2- Two written tests: the theoretical component of the course
3- Other elements of evaluation: a written essay to apply the concepts and methods of the psychological models to concrete situations.
Weighting: 2 tests = 75% written tests; Other elements of assessment = 25%.
Continuous evaluation is worth 60% of the final grade.

Teaching Resources

Oral presentation of the topics.
Group discussion.
PC and multi-media projector.
Educational videos.
Recommended readings: scientific articles and books.

Sustainability Objectives

Keywords

Postmodern Psychology - Constructivism - Social constructionism - Critical Psychology

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography