Would You Like to Teach a Session on the New Msc Qualitative Methodology Module Which Is

CRITICAL PSYCHOLOGY

MSc Module: 2CP3D321

Autumn 2011- Spring 2012

COURSE HANDBOOK 2 CRITICAL PSYCHOLOGY MODULE

The Critical Psychology MSc Module runs on a fortnightly cycle on Wednesday afternoons between 4.00 and 5.30 in the Autumn term 2011 (weeks 9, 11, 13, 15, 17) and the Spring term 2012 (weeks 24, 26, 28, 30, 32). The first session (week 9) is designed to orient you to the course and then there are four sessions in each term which are also open to other students and staff. The final session (in the Spring term) is a closed session. The format of the class open sessions, which will also function as an open Critical Psychology and Social Change seminar with visiting staff and students, will depend on the teaching format for the session. You will see these, and some additional sessions which we hope you will also attend, advertised on the Discourse Unit diary. The sessions for the Spring term 2012 will be finalised at the beginning of that term. The dates for the sessions are as follows:

Autumn term 2011:

September, 28, 4.00-5.30, Room OB101, Introductory session (closed session for module students)

October 12, 4.00-5.30, Room OB101, Gaskell Campus, MMU (Location details: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/travel/gaskell/) MJ Maher (Group Analyst, London) ‘Racism and Cultural Diversity: Cultivating Racial Harmony through Group Analysis and Psychotherapy’. MJ Maher will be talking about the background to her recently published book of that title (Karnac Books, 2001, http://www.karnacbooks.com/Product.asp?PID=26236&MATCH=1). This event will launch the book in Manchester, and will include reflections on why questions of racism and psychotherapy – specifically Group Analysis – are of importance to those working critically in psychology.

October 26, 4.00-5.30, Room OB101, Gaskell Campus, MMU (Location details: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/travel/gaskell/) Gregorio Iglesias Sahagún (Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro) ‘Consumerism: What is thought to be ‘normal’ is something very abnormal in market society’. The market economy in capitalist societies seems to rely on two ideas about what is ‘normal’. This paper by Gregorio Iglesias Sahagún, who is visiting MMU for a year from the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro in Mexico, will question this assumption about what ‘normality’ means and make some critical reflections on the way the market operates as a kind of ‘master’ in capitalist society. This talk is concerned with why critique of consumerism is part of the project of critical psychology.

November 9, 4.00-5.30, Room OB101, Gaskell Campus, MMU (Location details: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/travel/gaskell/) Why is ‘community’ psychology a necessary part of ‘critical psychology’? This session will bring together most of the authors of the recent book ‘Critical Community Psychology’ produced from within the Department of Psychology at MMU. The book is by Carolyn Kagan, Mark Burton, Paul Duckett, Rebecca Lawthom and

3 Asiya Siddiquee. Details: http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd- EHEP001542.html

November 23, 4.00-5.30, Room OB101, Gaskell Campus, MMU (Location details: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/travel/gaskell/) Asylum Collective North West (Asylum: The Magazine for Democratic Psychiatry). This session focuses on why struggles in the field of mental health are part of the field of critical psychology, describing the work of the radical magazine ‘Asylum’ (www.asylumonline.net).

Spring term 2012:

January 11, 4.00-5.30, Room OB101, Gaskell Campus, MMU (Location details: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/travel/gaskell/) Erica Burman and Ian Parker ‘Critical psychology in the Philippines’

January 25, 4.00-5.30, Room OB101, Gaskell Campus, MMU (Location details: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/travel/gaskell/) Geoff Bunn ‘All in the Brain: the making of a radio series’

February 8 tba

February 22 tba.

March 7 Review session (closed session for module students)

We have itemised here the bare minimum of teaching sessions for the unit, but we will be arranging other related events which we hope you will be able to attend, and will notify you about these when we know the details.

The sessions are designed to cover elements of feminist theory and debates from within feminist academic debates as they concern psychology, as well as the role of socialist feminism and queer theory in relation to perspectives on femininity, masculinity and the construction of sexuality. We include some coverage along the way of Marxist theory and the history of Marxist debates in relation to the discipline of psychology and conceptions of human individuality under capitalism. There is some discussion of psychoanalytic theories, and the role of mainstream Anglo-American psychoanalytic and Latin culture alternative theories as complementing and contrasting with psychological models of personality, development and consciousness. There will also be discussion of post-structuralist theories, to include accounts of discipline and confession, and the deconstruction of dominant practices in the psy-complex. If these topics are not explicitly addressed in the teaching sessions there will be opportunity to discuss the topics with the module tutors (Erica Burman and Ian Parker) and to work on these and other relevant conceptual frameworks for the assessment.

We will provide details of reading that we expect you to have done before the session, as well as some suggestions for further reading to follow up points of

4 interest for your own work. There also is a general indicative reading list at the end of this handbook.

You can access updates to the course and background documents provided by members of staff by using Moodle. You will find details of these and other related sessions in the ‘Discourse Unit Diary’ which is available from the Discourse Unit website (www.discourseunit.com) and directly from www.discourseunit.com/diary.doc

5 Assessment

The assessment for the module is one 4,500-word essay to be negotiated with tutors to include a critical appraisal of specified theoretical frameworks. In the essay you should demonstrate an ability to connect an account of the development of specified theoretical frameworks with debates in contemporary psychology, analyse the relationships and contradictions between critical frameworks, and use theoretical debates to open up new arenas for theoretical and practical interventions in psychology.

The structure of the essay can take a number of different forms, which can be discussed with tutors. You should at least include the following elements:

1. A brief introduction; 2. Outline of the topic to be discussed; 3. Outline of relevant critical frameworks employed in the essay; 4. An argument you develop from your reading; 5. A reflection on possible shortcomings of the critical frameworks employed; and 6. A brief conclusion.

These are the criteria we will use to mark the assessment. Work will be graded according to the extent to which you have:

1. Shown achievement of general masters’ criteria; 2. Demonstrated an ability to critically assess specified theoretical frameworks in psychology; 3. Demonstrated an understanding of critical resources used.

Remember that you must be clear in your citations and references if you have used work by other people. There are penalties for plagiarism in the university, and detail discussion of this in other more general handbooks for the MSc. You should include a reference list at the end of your assessment which must be in a consistent format, preferably in line with the conventions of the British Psychological Society (2003).

Make a note of the deadline for handing in your assessment for this module, which is on the MSc notice-board. Individual tutors cannot give extensions, and the deadlines are monitored centrally in MMU, so you must aim to get this work in on time. Late work can be accompanied by evidence as to reasons why it is late, and this evidence will be taken into account in decisions about acceptance of the work or reduction of marks.

The hand-in date for the assignment is 6 June 2012 (and we will give you feedback by 18 July).

6 Indicative Reading

This indicative reading for the module should be consulted before the course starts, and you will be expected to show an awareness of this literature, and the other specific readings suggested for the specific sessions, in your assignment. It is indicative reading, and you will need to supplement this list with research literature pertaining to your own interests and the position you take in relation to the assignment.

Annual Review of Critical Psychology (journal available on www.discourseunit.com). British Psychological Society (2003) Style Guide. http://www.bps.org.uk/documents/StyleGuide.pdf (accessed 14 November 2003). Bunn, G. C., Richards, G. D. and Lovie, A. D. (eds.) (2001) Psychology in Britain: Historical Essays and Personal Reflections. Leicester: BPS Books. Burman, E. (Ed) (1990) Feminists and Psychological Practice. London: Sage. Burman, E. (Ed) (1998) Deconstructing Feminist Psychology. London: Sage. Burman, E. (2007) Deconstructing Developmental Psychology (Second Edition). London: Routledge. Burman, E. (2008) Developments: Child, Image, Nation. London and New York: Routledge. Eagleton, T. (1991) Ideology: An Introduction. London: Verso. Foucault, M. (1980) Power/Knowledge. Sussex: Harvester Press. Fox, D. and Prilleltensky, I. (eds) (1997) Critical Psychology: An Introduction. London: Sage. Goodley, D. and Lawthom, R. (2005) Disability and Psychology: Critical Introductions and Reflections. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Gough, B. and McFadden, M. (2001) Critical Social Psychology: An Introduction. London: Palgrave. Harding, S. (1991) The Science Question in Feminism. Boston: MIT Press. Henriques, J., Hollway, Urwin, C., W., Venn, C., and Walkerdine, V. (1984) Changing the Subject: Psychology, social regulation and subjectivity. London: Methuen. Parker, I. and Spears, R. (eds) (1995) Psychology and Marxism: Contradiction and Coexistence. London, Pluto Press. Parker, I. (2007) Revolution in Psychology: Alienation to Emancipation. London: Pluto Press. Sloan, T. (ed) (1999) Critical Psychology. London: Palgrave. Theory & Psychology (journal available in MMU library).

MSc Critical Psychology Module Handbook for 2011-2012, prepared by Ian Parker (11 09 30)