Course Details
Buddhism and Psychology
3 Feb 2014
Personal Interest
Other
Victoria University Community Continuing Education
This course is only offered in Wellington
After Hours
6 weeks, Mon 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
6 weeks, Mon 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
$180.00
Early Bird Discount available until 2 weeks prior to the course start date $162.00 incl GST
Early Bird Discount available until 2 weeks prior to the course start date $162.00 incl GST
Overview:
Buddhism has been described as, among many things, a system of psychology offering a sophisticated analysis of the human mind and social behaviour. Today’s psychologists have a growing interest in the Buddhist perspective of mental processing, consciousness, concepts of the self and mindfulness training. This course explores the similarities and differences between Buddhism and modern Western psychology. It looks at how Buddhist perspectives can inform modern psychology, what neuroscience has revealed about how meditation changes the brain, and how Buddhist meditation has been incorporated in psychotherapy.
Target audience:
This course is aimed at the general public, particularly those people with an interest in Buddhism and meditation.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will have:
•learned the basic concepts and history of Buddhism
•gained an insight of the effect of Buddhist thought on the mind and human interaction
•learned how Buddhist psychology anticipates many ideas and concepts accepted in modern psychology
•discussed how Buddhist meditation and mindfulness training is being implemented in psychotherapy
•discussed the findings of neuroscience research about how meditation changes the function and structure of the brain.
Course format:
This series of two-hour lectures is held on Monday evenings over six weeks. There is a short break half-way through each session, and you are welcome to bring something to eat and drink if you wish.
Course outline:
Session 1: Historical background and core principles of Buddhism
•What is Buddhism?
•Who was the Buddha?
•Four Noble Truths
•Noble Eightfold Path
•Three Marks of Existence
•Three Poisons versus Four Immeasurables
Session 2: Buddhist concept of the self
•The concept of ‘no-self’ and emptiness
•Five Skandhas
•How does the Buddhist version of the self-compare with versions put forth by Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and William James?
•How does the Buddhist concept of self-compare with our present-day debates about agency?
Session 3: Buddhist theories on social interactions
•Karma
•Five Precepts
•Interconnectedness and the emphasis on compassion and loving kindness versus modern theories of compassion and altruism
Session 4: Humanistic (positivistic) psychology
•Compare and contrast Carl Roger’s humanistic psychology to Buddhism
•Is actualisation as described in humanistic psychology the same as nirvana?
Session 5: Psychotherapy and meditation
•How is meditation being used in psychotherapy?
•How effective is meditation as a therapeutic tool?
•What is mindfulness, and how is it supposed to be helpful?
Session 6: Your brain on Buddhism
•What does neuroscience reveal about meditation’s effects on the brain and body?
Buddhism has been described as, among many things, a system of psychology offering a sophisticated analysis of the human mind and social behaviour. Today’s psychologists have a growing interest in the Buddhist perspective of mental processing, consciousness, concepts of the self and mindfulness training. This course explores the similarities and differences between Buddhism and modern Western psychology. It looks at how Buddhist perspectives can inform modern psychology, what neuroscience has revealed about how meditation changes the brain, and how Buddhist meditation has been incorporated in psychotherapy.
Target audience:
This course is aimed at the general public, particularly those people with an interest in Buddhism and meditation.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will have:
•learned the basic concepts and history of Buddhism
•gained an insight of the effect of Buddhist thought on the mind and human interaction
•learned how Buddhist psychology anticipates many ideas and concepts accepted in modern psychology
•discussed how Buddhist meditation and mindfulness training is being implemented in psychotherapy
•discussed the findings of neuroscience research about how meditation changes the function and structure of the brain.
Course format:
This series of two-hour lectures is held on Monday evenings over six weeks. There is a short break half-way through each session, and you are welcome to bring something to eat and drink if you wish.
Course outline:
Session 1: Historical background and core principles of Buddhism
•What is Buddhism?
•Who was the Buddha?
•Four Noble Truths
•Noble Eightfold Path
•Three Marks of Existence
•Three Poisons versus Four Immeasurables
Session 2: Buddhist concept of the self
•The concept of ‘no-self’ and emptiness
•Five Skandhas
•How does the Buddhist version of the self-compare with versions put forth by Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and William James?
•How does the Buddhist concept of self-compare with our present-day debates about agency?
Session 3: Buddhist theories on social interactions
•Karma
•Five Precepts
•Interconnectedness and the emphasis on compassion and loving kindness versus modern theories of compassion and altruism
Session 4: Humanistic (positivistic) psychology
•Compare and contrast Carl Roger’s humanistic psychology to Buddhism
•Is actualisation as described in humanistic psychology the same as nirvana?
Session 5: Psychotherapy and meditation
•How is meditation being used in psychotherapy?
•How effective is meditation as a therapeutic tool?
•What is mindfulness, and how is it supposed to be helpful?
Session 6: Your brain on Buddhism
•What does neuroscience reveal about meditation’s effects on the brain and body?
Teacher:
Steven Prime is a Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Victoria University. His expertise is on the brain processes governing perception. He has been practising and studying Buddhism for over 20 years.
Steven Prime is a Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Victoria University. His expertise is on the brain processes governing perception. He has been practising and studying Buddhism for over 20 years.