YOUTH INITIATIVE HIGH SCHOOL
Waldorf Initiative in Viroqua, Wisconsin, USA
COURSES AND CLASSES
Psychology Main Lesson
Block for Grade 12
Instructor: Deborah Baer
This course begins with an introduction to psychology and its various sub-disciplines, a brief history of psychology, and some basic concepts and current issues. We will discuss the assumptions underlying Western psychology and how they condition our thinking. Theories dealing with the inner development of the human being throughout the life cycle will begin our exploration of how our psyches may be understood. Psychoanalytic theory, analytical psychology, and biological, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, transpersonal, Eastern, and Native theories and therapies will be explored. “Abnormal” psychology and mental illness will be discussed, both from Western and from alternative perspectives, and we will learn about the varieties of mental health professionals and the mental health care system, including legal issues. We will study several landmark experimental studies and discuss the ethics involved in such studies. Media, advertising, and other social issues will be addressed from the standpoint of psychology, and the topic of stress will be addressed. We will study communication patterns within the context of systems theory, and students will have the opportunity to role-play various patterns and practice skills. Each student will take two personality inventories, one related to Jung’s types, and the other to the Enneagram. Various other group activities will help us to explore issues experientially (these will be fun---or at least “interesting”), and group discussion, in addition to lecture, will be an important part of the class. Time will be allowed during every class period to read assigned material and to make daily entries in a required journal, although students will still have about one hour (no more) of homework every day. Students will complete a VERY SHORT, easy (if you have any idea at all of what is going on) take-home quiz each day. The main purpose of these quizzes is to help you to grasp the material, although they will also be graded. I will try to make them entertaining. On the last day of class, a final exam essay will be written (you will know the exact question from the first day of class). Evaluations will be based upon the quality of participation in class discussions and group activities, effort demonstrated in journals, the quizzes, and the final exam/essay.