Units / PSY3252
PSY3252 · The history of psychological disorders and disability
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 3Psychology
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
Psychology and psychiatry have long shaped how psychological disorders and disability are defined, studied, and managed. This unit traces the historical development of these concepts, examining their evolving place within psychology, healthcare, and society. Through this unit, you will examine how understandings of psychological disorders have evolved over time – from early philosophical and medical perspectives to key milestones in psychological science and the cultural shifts that have shaped how mental health practitioners respond to psychological disorders and disability. The unit will follow the emergence of research, diagnostic systems, therapeutic approaches, and professional roles, highlighting how influential studies and practices have shaped contemporary theory and mental health practice. Through this historical lens, you will critically examine how science has shaped mental health practice within broader health systems and support structures over time. This will deepen your understanding of how past ideas continue to inform current approaches across diagnosis, treatment, and support for people living with disability.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | First semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Digital poster (500 words) + reflection (300 words) | Written | 30% | — |
| 2 | Narrative review presentation (15 mins) | Presentation | 30% | — |
| 3 | Critical reflection essay (2,000 words) | Written | 40% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
prohibitions
- PSY5017 — Disability and inclusive practice
Learning outcomes
- Describe how understandings of psychological disorders and disability have differed and evolved over time.
- Explain key historical trends in the research and treatment of psychological disorders.
- Analyse the impact of the evolution of cultural perspectives, including language and lived-experience, on research.
- Evaluate how cultural perspectives, research, and practice have shaped diagnostic systems and therapies.
- Critically reflect on the contemporary implications of historical understandings of psychological disorders and disability.
Workload
2 hours of seminars per week 2 hours of tutorials per week for 10 weeks 8 hours background reading/preparation for lectures, tutorials and assessment tasks per week Total per week = 12 hours
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Tutorials | — |
| Seminars | — |
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