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Module Content

This module will introduce the interdisciplinary area at the intersection of Psychological Anthropology, Cultural Psychology, Comparative Human Development and studies of culture and mental health. Students will become familiar with frameworks for studying and understanding the diversity as well as the continuities in normal psychological functioning, selfhood, mental illness and therapeutic intervention across a range of societies. We will explore anthropological approaches to self-experience, comparative human development, dreams, psychological defence, severe mental illness, dissociation, spirit possession, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and global mental health.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will obtain a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems, related to the fields of Psychological Anthropology, Cultural Psychology and Comparative Human Development.
• Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship.
• Students completing the module will demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in this field.
• Students will gain a conceptual understanding that will enable them to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the field and to evaluate methodologies and critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses.

Indicative Delivery method

The primary mode of instruction is a discussion-based seminar. Each seminar will begin with a brief lecture to orient students to the material.

Additional Information

• Ongoing formative assessment will occur through in-class and private discussions which will give students ongoing feedback on their knowledge and understanding prior to the summative assessment.
• In addition, students will be invited to discuss their essay plan, well in advance of their summative assessment, for which they will receive feedback.