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Athens Fall
2005 (Sept 8-Dec 4)
Psychology
in Greece
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Welcome to the
home page for Psychology
in Greece
Athens is a wonderful
place to study psychology. It is similar to the United States in
that the Golden Age of Greece forms the foundation for many of the
ideas and ways of knowing that are fundamental to the Western
World. Yet, modern Greece has many unique features that make it
interesting and challenging for people accustomed to the mainstream
U.S. culture. Access to historic sites, classic concepts, and
modern features make Greece both familar yet foreign. What a
perfect combination for a truely mind altering experience. The
hustle and bustle of modern Athens stands cheek by jowl with the living
historical sites and precidents from an ancient era. Nowhere in
the U.S. will you find archeological digs from 1000BC next to the
subway station--amazing!
In Fall Term 2005 two psychology classes will
take adavantage of this unique setting. The first, Culture and
Mental Health in Greece, is a psychology of adjustment course set in a
cross-cultural setting. The ideas we have in the U.S. about
interpersonal communication, gender issues, sex, intimacy, marriage,
and lifestyle can be re-examined, and viewed in a new light when
studied in a culture as different as modern Greece is from the
U.S. Check out the class in the links below.
The second course, The History of Psychology:
It all Started with the Greeks, combines psychology, history, and
philosophy to trace the direct lines of influence between the Golden
Age of Greece with modern psychological theories and approaches.
It's incredible to discover that people 5000 years ago may have been
thinking and feeling the same ways that we do today. Discovering
why people behave the way they do takes on new meaning when placed in
the context of the history of ideas. Be sure to look at the links
below for more information.
Study abroad experiences go well beyond the
classroom. As a matter of fact, these classes are structured
explicitly to take advantage of the setting. Athens will be our
learning laboratory. We will have plentiful opportunities to get
out and about to see, hear, feel, and taste the culture of
Greece. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Both of these courses are part of a larger study
abroad program at the Athens Centre in Greece that is sponsored by the
Northwest Council for Study Abroad (NCSA). Be sure to see the
incredible range of classes and learning experiences that are available
in conjunction with the study of psychology. Check the links
below for further information.
Culture
and Mental Health in Greece
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Course Description.
What constitutes “mental
health,” “healing,” “personality,” and even “self” gain their meaning
from the cultural context in which they are defined. Studying
these concepts while in another culture reveals the necessity of
including culture as background for many psychological phenomena.
Many modern approaches to psychological well-being owe their origins to
classic Greek philosophies. This course will study topics related to
positive psychological functioning such as person perception,
interpersonal communication, gender relations, stress and coping,
personality, psychological health and illness, psychotherapy and
psychological treatment. Greece’s history of healing centers and varied
philosophic traditions form a link from past and current Greek views on
healthy adjustment to the various approaches to healing and mental
health popular in the US. Special emphasis will focus on how these
processes may be brought into play in the student’s environment or
community, and how the cultural differences between the US and Greece
affect them. Field trips and “hands-on” activities will provide
rich experience of the class topics.
Below are several
choices
of class materials and class activities. Please click on the ones you
want
to examine.
The
History of Psychology:
It
all started with the Greeks
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Course Description.
Although
modern psychology as a discipline marks its beginnings in the late
1800’s, its origins extend back to ancient Greek thinkers. Modern
schools of psychology, and the overall understanding of psychology as a
science as well as a practice field owe their philosophical
underpinnings to ideas and approaches culminating during the Golden Age
of Greece. Psychological approaches will be examined with an eye
to understanding Greek influences. Accented will be famous
psychologists such as Freud, Jung, Skinner, Rogers, Maslow; and famous
theories such as psychoanalysis, behaviorism, cognitive, humanistic
psychology. Excursions will emphasize Greek places and people
that had great impact on psychology.
About
the Professor
Dr.
Victor Savicki will be teaching these psychology courses in Athens
during Fall 2005. Dr. Savicki brings a wealth of experience in
teaching and in cross-cultural issues. He has been highly
evaluated teacher in psychology both at his home campus at Western
Oregon University, and in courses abroad. He has taught
psychology in Kassel, Germany; London, UK; and in Vienna,
Austria. So, he knows how to take advantage of the unique
circumstances of a foreign culture to highlight and enhance course
learning. In addition, he is a cross-cultural psychologist whose
recently published book compares 13 different cultures on issues of
stress, coping, and burnout. If you would like to find out more
about him, look at Dr.
Savicki's web page. And you can write to him directly at savickv@wou.edu
Program and Registration Information
More Information
Western Oregon University