PA942-7-SP-CO:
Psychoanalysis and the Psychosocial

The details
2023/24
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
24 August 2023

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

MA C89012 Psychoanalytic Studies,
MA C89024 Psychoanalytic Studies,
MA C890MO Psychoanalytic Studies,
MPHDC89048 Psychoanalytic Studies,
PHD C89048 Psychoanalytic Studies

Module description

The module is designed to explore the relationship between psychosocial studies and psychoanalysis. A key aim of this module is to introduce a range of significant psychoanalytic ideas, not only on their own as abstract theory, but also through their use in various fields, clinical and nonclinical (including cultural studies and social research methods). Such an approach will help you understand the utility and limitations of psychoanalytic ideas more deeply and critically, so that you can use them in conjunction with knowledge from other sources, test their limits of application and deploy them more accurately.

Module aims

• To explore different conceptions of the psychosocial, and understand the relationship between psychosocial studies and psychoanalysis.
• To consolidate the understanding of key psychoanalytic ideas through their use in a range of settings.
• To explore a range of psychosocial applications of psychoanalysis and to discuss the nature of psychosocial approaches.
• To foster a critical approach to the theory of psychoanalysis and more particularly, to the nature and validity of evidence and interpretation, by exploring it through non-clinical, as well as clinical sources.
• To investigate what happens when psychoanalytic ideas are used in conjunction with other disciplinary frameworks (history, politics, gender studies, cultural analysis, etc).
• To understand and evaluate the importance of unconscious forces operating both in clinical and non-clinical situations.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate familiarity with relevant psychoanalytic concepts and psychosocial approaches, bringing a questioning and critical dimension to your understanding through applying them and testing them outside psychoanalysis itself, especially with respect to culture and society;
• Deploy various critical and academic skills (e.g., how to evaluate historical sources, philosophical arguments, the nature and adequacy of theories, or cultural artefacts) in a psychoanalytically informed investigation of a topic, including the analysis of texts;
• Show an understanding of psychodynamic, principally unconscious, forces at work in nonclinical situations, especially aspects of culture and society, and to assess their importance;
• Show a critical understanding of methodological issues in psychoanalytic and psychosocial studies: what is special about psychoanalytic and/or psychosocial methodology, what are its strengths and weaknesses; how can it be combined with other more socially oriented forms of investigation?

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

In general, each seminar will include an overview of the topic by the seminar leader, followed by discussion. Students may be asked to introduce a topic with a prepared, short presentation. Some classes may include concentrated, critical reading of texts in small groups, followed by discussion.

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Essay    100% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Magda-Agata Schmukalla, email: m.schmukalla@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Magda-Agata Schmukalla
Postgraduate Student Administrator: ppspgt@essex.ac.uk 01206 873745 Room 5A.202

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Dr Noreen Giffney
Ulster University, Jordanstown Campus, Northern Ireland
Lecturer in Counselling
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 18 hours, 18 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies

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