ERIC Number: ED505004
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Apr-4
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Teaching and Learning Psychology through an Analysis of Social Science Fiction
Herman, William E.
Online Submission, Paper presented at the I-CON 28 Science Fiction Convention (Apr 3-5, 2009, Ronkonkoma, NY)
This paper is designed to accompany an appearance by the author as a panelist during a session on science fiction and teaching methods at the I-CON 28 Science Fiction Convention held April 3-5, 2009, on Long Island (near New York City). The author describes how he employs social science fiction in an honors course at the university level to promote the deeper understanding of how psychological theory, research findings, and scientific ideas can be applied to better understand human behavior. Imaginative literature is critically examined from an artistic and intellectual point of view in order to help students detect the obvious and sometimes underlying presence of psychological content. In addition to defining terms such as social science fiction and outlining exemplary stories that lend themselves particularly well to a psychological analysis, a situation in the short story "Deadlier Specie" written by David A. Kyle is analyzed as an example of what is accomplished in class. The major conclusion of the paper is that the teaching of psychology at the higher education level can be enhanced through the critical analysis of science fiction. (Contains 1 table.)
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A