Mental Health, Healing and Social Change in Showa Japan: 1926-1989 (U03777)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-U03777

The era of Emperor Showa (Hirohito) is associated with a series of profound political and socio-economic shifts in Japan, from militarism and imperial expansion in the 1930s to defeat and American occupation in the 1940s and early 50s, and a subsequent economic miracle. This course sets out to investigate this period of unprecedented social change from the perspective of professional, popular and political attitudes towards mental health and healing. The course is grounded in social history, linking attitudes towards mental health to shifts in thinking about a range of intimately related topics, from the perceived value and uniqueness of national cultures to generational changes in social relationships and behaviour.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : A pass in any first level historical course and any second level historical course or equivalent. Before enrolling students on this course Directors are asked to contact the History Honours Admissions Secretary to ensure that a place is available (Tel: 503783). Visiting students should normally have three to four History courses at grade B or above.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

History, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
08/01/2008	16:00	18:00

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	16:10	18:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to:
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of Japanese social history in the Showa period, in particular the evolution of professional and popular attitudes towards mental health and methods of healing.
- Utilise inter-disciplinary techniques of analysis, with appropriate attention to the methodological issues involved, in the service of investigating complex social and cultural issues.
- Analyse and discuss in classroom debates, essays and examination the content of inter-disciplinary and on-line sources, together with the practical limits associated with their use in social history.
- Demonstrate enhanced verbal reasoning skills both in a small group and classroom context, going beyond speculation to draw on well-chosen illustrations.
- Employ professional sensitivity and nuance in dealing with difficult issues, challenging the notion that tradition or science/modernity ever have monolithic or mutually exclusive claims where mental health, the human person or social development are concerned.

Assessment Information

The course will require one 3000 word essay and one two-hour examination. The essay will make up one third of the assessment. The exam will be worth two-thirds of the final assessment. Students can expect written feedback and individual consultation on their work.