Diagnosing Ourselves and Others: Psychological Classifications in Everyday Life (FYS)
PSYC 123F
Fall 2025
| Section:
01
|
Our understanding of self and others increasingly relies on psychological classifications such as anxiety, trauma, imposter syndrome, attachment style, boundaries, narcissism and the like. We share common meanings of these mental terms though usually we are unaware of their origins or scientific status. The seminar explores the circulation of this phenomenal psychological discourse in science, personal life and social media. We trace the evolution of popular diagnostics of ourselves and others, asking how their everyday usage shapes our cognition, behavior, and relationships. We also consider this vocabulary's underlying counter punctual themes of human vulnerability and resistance along with their effects on our moral life. This course counts as an elective requirement towards the psychology major. |
|
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
NSM PSYC |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
|
Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
|
Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 | | Special Attributes: FYS |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
AVIV, R. (2022). STRANGERS TO OURSELVES: STORIES OF UNSETTLED MINDS. London: Harvill Secker. ISBN: 9781250872913
COSGROVE, L. & KARTER, J.M. (2018). THE POISON IS THE CURE: NEO-LIBERALISM AND CONTEMPORARY MOVEMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH. Theory & Psychology, 28(5), 669-683.
CUSHMAN, P. (1990). WHY THE SELF IS EMPTY: TOWARD A HISTORICALLY SITUATED PSYCHOLOGY. American Psychologist, 45, 599-61.
DE VOS, X (2014). PSYCHOLOGIZATION. In Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, ed. T. Teo (Berlin: Springer), 1547-1551.
FOULKES, L. & ANDREWS, J. (2023). ARE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS EFFORTS CONTRIBUTING TO THE RISE IN REPORTED MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS? A CALL TO TEST THE PREVALENCE INFLATION HYPOTHESIS. New Ideas in Psychology.
HACKING, I. (2006). MAKING UP PEOPLE. London Review of Books.
HASLAM, N. (2016). CONCEPT CREEP: PSYCHOLOGY¿S EXPANDING CONCEPTS OF HARM AND PATHOLOGY. Psychological Inquiry
PARK, J. (2024). ADDICTION BECOMES NORMAL: ON THE LATE-MODERN AMERICAN SUBJECT. Chicago. ISBN: 9780226832760.
SIMMONS, D. (2016). IMPOSTER SYNDROME: A REPARATIVE HISTORY. Engaging Science, Technology, and Society.
SINGAL, J. (2023). HOW THE SELF ESTEEM MOVEMENT TOOK OVER AMERICA. New York Magazine.
|
Examinations and Assignments:
6 short papers and 1 research paper |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course counts as an elective requirement towards the psychology major. |
| Instructor(s): Morawski,Jill Times: ..T.R.. 02:50PM-04:10PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: X | JR major: X | | |
| Seats Available: 15 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: X | JR non-major: X | SO: X | FR: 15 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
|
|