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No offerings have been identified for this subject in 2015

PSY303 Language and Subjectivity (8)

Abstract

This subject aims to provide resources for subject members to construct and practice understandings of important contemporary international psychological approaches to language, subjectivity, praxis, power and knowledge.  The subject aims to explore language taken as both playing a role in the constitution of subjectivity and psychological selves, and as a primary medium of psychological inquiry. Hence language is central to research, community and clinical training, and thus to practice and political and philosophical critique; essential to responsible global citizenship.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details prior to contacting their course coordinator: PSY303
Where differences exist between the handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration Grading System School:
One sessionHD/FLSchool of Psychology

Assumed Knowledge

PSY201 and (PSY202 or PSY203 or PSY204 or PSY208)

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

- be able to discuss and problematise inter-relations between language, subjectivity, power, and knowledges, in relation to subjectivity, constitution of the psychological self and responsible global citizenship

- be able to critically discuss the ways in which language figures as a medium of psychological inquiry, both in research and other forms of professional practice

- be able to carry out, analyse and critique a qualitative research method

- be able to engage productively with community critical and feminist approaches to psychology

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:

- Introduction to the ways language and subjectivity can be described

- Theoretical and philosophical examination of contemporary critical theories on language, subjectivity, power and knowledges. 

- Historical and theoretical perspectives focusing on language and discourse, power and knowledges, critical thinking and praxis

- Critical Methodology: grounding in theoretical, epistemological and methodological principles which engage with subjectivity and praxis in research.

- Critical research methods: practice based inquiry into research and praxis

- Discourses in school education: draws upon subject member’s subjective experiences, discourse theory and research carried out in educational settings. 

- Discourse in university and the workplace: development of previous topic which examines the interconnectedness between educational discourse and institutional discourse more widely

- Gendered power and language: draws upon post-structural feminist and queer standpoints to engage with fundamental issues in the way in which heterosexism, silencing, privilege, and gendered oppression function and are accomplished.

- Answering Back: examination of emancipatory disability research, activism and especially indigenous decolonising methodology, to consider challenges they pose to mainstream psychology and the role of language and discourse.

- Language of psychology: draws upon critical theory to examine the language and discourses of psychology itself to reflect on the nature, function and implications of assumptions and practices within psychology.

Residential School

This subject contains a compulsory 2.5 day residential school. During the compulsory residential study school, distance education students participate in a participatory programme comprising praxis and discussions which supplement the course materials.

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The information contained in the 2015 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 01 October 2015. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.