Course syllabus
Welcome to Histories of the Modern Self!
Welcome to the course page for the Master’s course ”Histories of the modern self: from the unconscious to neuroimaging"!
The course starts on Wednesday 2 September 2026, 13:15-15:00, with an introduction and a text seminar in the lecture hall of the Museum for the History of Medicine (Medicinhistoriska museet), Ulleråker, Uppsala. The seminar will be followed by an optional, free guided tour of the museum and the surroundings, formerly home to the Ulleråker psychiatric hospital. I am looking forward to seeing you there!
This course introduces historical research on the psy-disciplines and their role in forming the modern Western self. How have psychoanalysts, behavioural scientists, neuroscientists and systems theorists contributed to shaping and reshaping the human subject from the beginning of the 20th century until today? How have different theories of the human psyche intervened in people's lives, made us understand ourselves and exist in the world in new ways? The course spans several fields of knowledge – from well-known theories such as psychoanalysis and behaviourism, to lesser-known ones such as cybernetics, systems theory and the humanistic therapies – and explores how they have contributed to renegotiations of both the human being and the institutions of society. The course also extends into the present, as we discuss what it means when contemporary neuroscience equates the brain with the self.
The course introduces the theoretical perspectives and concepts that form the basis of the field of historical research on the self, but places particular emphasis on analysing concrete historical examples of how psy-knowledge has been used and established in different areas of society. Discussion and analysis of empirical source material is therefore a central part of the course.
The course is thematically – and partly chronologically – organized, consisting of nine text seminars. The language of instruction is English. After the introduction, the students will be divided into study groups, which are expected to meet in advance of each text seminar to discuss the literature in relation to the study questions. Group discussions must be summarized in writing and sent to the responsible teacher no later than the day before the seminar.
Each seminar has its own assigned readings, with reading instructions found under Modules. Here you will also find information about where to find the texts. There is no need to purchase any literature, unless you wish to do so. We strongly recommend you print the readings, both for the quality of your reading and for the quality of the seminars.
The course will be examined through active participation in text seminars as well as an essay exam at the end of the course. After completing the course, students are expected to be able to:
- account for the overall history of the psy-disciplines and reflect upon their evolution in relation to social development, with particular focus on Europe and the USA during the twentieth century and until today;
- analyse historical examples of how knowledge production in the psy-disciplines have shaped the modern self and generated new ways to feel, act, and be in the world;
- critically and independently relate to relevant subject-historical research, and independently apply theoretical perspectives and concepts important to the field;
- critically reflect on the historicity of the self and the significance of the psy-disciplines, both historically and in contemporary society.
About the teachers: The course coordinator is Linnea Tillema (linnea.tillema@idehist.uu.se). Josephine Selander (josephine.selander@idehist.uu.se), Annelie Drakman (annelie.drakman@idehist.uu.se) and Johan Bengtsson (johan.bengtsson@uu.se) will also be teaching on the course.
If you have a general question about the course, please contact the course coordinator (linnea.tillema@idehist.uu.se) or the course administrator Anna-Lotta Jadinge (annalotta.jadinge@idehist.uu.se). If you have questions regarding a specific seminar, please address the responsible teacher.
Please note that there may be minor changes to the readings.