HIST395
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PSYCHOHISTORY
Course Description
This course explores the "why" of history, current events, and society. Though psychology has always been used to understand history, most historians have typically relied on general psychological notions. Here the methods of psychology are systematically applied to the study of attitudes, historical events, and personalities. The methodology of psychohistory is to probe childhood, creativity, emotion, family dynamics, group fantasy, psychic trauma, psychobiography, and the differences between conscious and unconscious intention. Specific areas of study will include the questions of how Americans elect a president, the psychobiography of presidential candidates and leaders, the psychology of 9/11, and the European appeasement of Hitler. The two Presidents Bush, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, and Hitler and the politicians who appeased him will be case studies.
Convening Group
Course Attributes
OLD GE-TOPICS ARTS&HUMANATIES (GTAH)