UCL - Louvanist and Post-Louvanist Perspectives : Epistemology, Theory and criminological Studies

[CRIM2502]

[30h] 6 credits

Teacher(s): Christophe Adam

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

In terms of knowledge, the student will have a deepened theoretical framework, conceptual proposals and methodological attitudes which characterize, in criminology, l'"Ecole de Louvain".

On the epistemological and theoretical point of view, the course will aim at the deepening of knowledge relating to the texts of the principal contributors to the formation and the continuation of the aforesaid Ecole.
The student will have to be able to identify the own epistemology of the "Ecole de Louvain", characterized by the dialogue between different disciplines and paradigms.

Main themes

This course introduces students to the new advances and openings that have come out of the most promising theoretical and clinical developments in analysing and conceptualising the psychological processes underlying the diversity of forms and types of deviance, marginalisation and crime and possible links between criminality and psychopathology. These intra-and interpersonal psychological processes need to be examined within the framework of their interrelations with biological, cultural and social issues. The course will both examine cultural and intercultural variation in the range of logics and styles of pathological crime and criminality and also the way in which these are affected by social and environmental change.

Content and teaching methods

This lesson in structured in three topics :
1. General and clinical epistemology; 2. Principles of clinical methodology; 3. Researchers' works and working papers. Each part needs a specific method: 1. classical lessons and commentaries read before session by the students; 2. Interactive statements; 3. Research statements with debate. In the first part, the main lines of the epistemology of sciences will be presented. After the presentation of her genesis, we will integrate her in a wider field including the other schools and the ways of thinking (Lyon, clinical phenomenology, etc.). In the second part, we will develop methodological considerations concerning the principles, the requirements and the dangers of a clinical device to build knowledge from the clinical observation, interviews and case studies. In the last part, researchers will be invited to speak about their work to explain their way of constructing knowledge, the bias and their solutions.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

A wide range of texts will be available for the students.

Written examination.