course material

1. psychotherapy:sensationalists, rationalists, and romantics
During the modernist period, you noticed a countercultural movement of romanticism and
early existentialism. Explore the two major strands of early modernism – sensationalism
and rationalism – along with the countercultural movement – romanticism and early
existentialism. While British sensationalism also emerged during this period, it is more of a
blending of sensationalism and rationalism. You’ll focus on the two more pure thought
systems.You’ve noticed that the three groups – the sensationalists, the rationalists, and the
romantics, have very different epistemologies. The sensationalists trusted the senses or
sense experience to determine truth. While many of them also used reason to some degree,
they placed a greater trust in the senses. The rationalists, while giving some credence to the
senses, primarily trusted reason as the best guide to knowing truth. The romantics took a
more phenomenological approach and placed greater emphasis on emotions in the process
of determining how to live; they weren’t as concerned with the issue of truth. How do these
epistemologies impact ethics and morals? Particularly with the romantics, you begin to
notice there is a potential to separate ethics, or what is right, from values, or the individual’s
ideals. What do you think is the significance of this separation? These three positions still do
not dictate a view of human nature as fundamentally good or evil. There are variant
positions within the perspectives. Discuss any implications you think exist for human
nature in these perspectives. Finally, address the implications for therapy. Compare how
you think these different philosophies would impact the way psychotherapy effectiveness
should be determined.Be sure to support your conclusions with information drawn from
the online content, the textbook, and other credible, scholarly sources to substantiate the
points you are making. Submit your response to the M2: Assignment 2
Dropbox by Wednesday, December 9, 2015. The paper should be 2-4 pages, double-spaced
12-point typescript, Times Roman font, with 1-inch margins all around, and free from
grammatical errors. This page count includes the title page, text, and references. All written
assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources. Name your
assignment as follows:LastName_FirstInitial_PSY450_M2A2FinalProjAssignment 2 Grading
CriteriaMaximum PointsStated how the rationalists, romantics and sensationalists impacted
ethics and morality and discussed the significance of the romantics move to separate ethics
from values.16Discussed how these three positions still do not dictate a view of human
nature as fundamentally good or evil.16Discussed any implications that exist for human

2. nature in these perspectives.16Addressed the implications for therapy.16Compared how
these different philosophies would impact the way psychotherapy effectiveness should be
determined.16Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical
scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources, displayed accurate
spelling, grammar, and punctuation.20Total:100