Dr. Christopher Peet

Associate Professor of Psychology

Office: N133
Phone: 780-465-3500 ext. 8068
Email: chris.peet@kingsu.ca

Education

Ph.D., Psychology, University of Alberta, 2004
B.A. (Honors), Religious Studies, University of Alberta, 1997

See my CV here.

Research Interests

● developing psychology as a “human science”, that understands the psyche in interdisciplinary terms focused on relationships, social context, cultural setting, and historical background
● the theme of “personal agency”, in particular as informed by phenomenological, existential, and hermeneutic philosophies. (Soren Kierkegaard, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Gabriel Marcel, Michael Polanyi, and Charles Taylor have been the major influences on my thinking.)
● the theme of “disciplinarity”, by which I mean an understanding of the historical development of the numerous research disciplines that study “human being” independently of each other, rather than in a collaborative interdisciplinary way. I draw on work in the philosophy, history, and sociology of science for this research.
● the psychology of religion: that our personal agency can be understood as ultimately oriented to questions of transcendence, and how to situate this understanding relative to the different disciplinary perspectives

Research Opportunities for Students

There is opportunity, based on availability of funding, for paid research assistance work for students, working under the supervision of professors. (Note this is usually, but not necessarily or always, done in the summer.)

Recent students and projects I’ve supervised
● Marie Bullock on topic “Technology and immanence”
● Jeremy Beile on topic “Theorizing agency, questioning identity”
● Ami Harbin on topic “Excavating Rene Girard” (co-supervised with Dr. Henry Schuurman, professor of Philosophy)

Recent Publications

Peet, C. (2010). Roger Smith. Being Human: Historical Knowledge and the Creation of Human Nature. (Book review). Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 46 (3), pp. 325-7.

Peet, C. (2007). Beyond Foucault: Tradition and agency. In Citizen City: Between contructing agent and constructed agency, van Deventer, Tere Blanche, Fourie, & Segalo (Eds.). Toronto, ON: Captus University Publications.

Beile, J. & Peet, C. (2006). Developing (a theory of) self-determining agency. Theory & Psychology, 16, 575-577.

Peet, C.(2005). Defining religion: Strategies and reflections on an elusive figure. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 24 (2), 105-112.

Peet, C. (2003). Archaeology and contradiction: an existential critique of Foucault’s theory of discursive practice. In N. Stephenson, L.Radtke, R. Jorna & H. Stam, (Eds.), Theoretical psychology: critical contributions. North York, Ontario: Captus University Press.

Peet, C. (2002). Embodiment and commitment in scientific inquiry: Recovering Polanyi’s sense of personal agency. International Journal of Critical Psychology, 5, pp. 71-91.

Recent Conference Presentations

Peet, C. (2009a). Technoscience or human science? Psychology at the intersection of history and science studies. Paper presented at Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Annual Conference, Montréal, Quebec, June 11-13, 2009.

Peet, C. (2009b). Publishing & Possibilities: Students in Mind. Conversation session chaired at Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Annual Conference, Montréal, Quebec, June 11-13, 2009.

Peet, C. (2008a). Conspicuous abstention: Why is there no psychology of technology? Paper presented at Western Canadian Theoretical Psychology (WCTP) Annual Conference, held in Edmonton, Alberta, 30 Oct. –Nov. 2, 2008.

Peet, C., & Bullock, M. (2008b). Critical reflections on “Appropriate Technology”: Between autonomy and immanence. Paper presented at Second annual Baylor Symposium on Faith & Culture conference, Bottom-up Approaches to Global Poverty: Appropriate technology, social entrepreneurship, and the church, held in Waco, Texas, 23-25 Oct., 2008.

Bullock, M., & Peet, C. (2008c). Michael Polanyi’s theory of tacit knowing: Appropriating technological means toward appropriate technological ends. Poster presented at the Second annual Baylor Symposium on Faith & Culture conference, Bottom-up Approaches to Global Poverty: Appropriate technology, social entrepreneurship, and the church, held in Waco, Texas, 23-25 Oct., 2008.

Peet, C. (2007a). On tradition as 'constitutive-dispossessive'. Paper presented at the CPA Annual Conference, held in Ottawa, Ontario, June 7-9, 2007.

Peet, C. (2007b). On the necessity and impossibility of a post-disciplinary psychology. Paper presented as part of the symposium "Psychology in the future tense?" at the International Society for Theoretical Psychology (ISTP) Biennial Conference "Transdisciplinarity and Internationalization", held in York, Ontario, June 18-25, 2007.

Peet, C. (2007c). Chair & discussant of the panel discussion "Theoretical, eh? Theoretical psychology in Canada: Retrospect/prospect", held at the ISTP Biennial Conference “Transdisciplinarity and Internationalization", held in York, Ontario, June 18-25, 2007.

Courses I teach

PSYC 251 - The Person in Society
PSYC 327 - Between Science and Fiction: The Intersection of Psychology and Literature (cross-listed as ENGL 327; co-taught with Dr. Trigg, English)
PSYC 333 - Psychology Of Religion
PSYC 340 - Social Psychology (cross-listed as SOCI 340)
PSYC 390 - Psychology of Personality
PSYC 420 - History of Psychology
PSYC 495 - Senior Psychology Seminar

PHIL 334 - Philosophy of the Sciences (co-taught with Dr. Dudiak, Philosophy, and Dr. Martin, Physics)
PHIL 365 - Philosophy of the Social Sciences

PSYC399 - Special Topics in Psychology
A non-recurring course offered in no specific year on a particular topic of interest to myself or students.

Examples of special topics courses I’ve taught:
Selfhood and agency: understanding individualism
Cross-cultural psychology

PSYC 494 - Advanced Topics in Psychology
A non-recurring senior-level course offered in no specific year on a particular topic of interest to myself or students.

Examples of advanced topics courses I’ve taught:
Psychology of technology

PSYC 497 - Research Practicum in Psychology
An independent research project, usually undertaken individually by a senior-level student, that I supervise.

Examples of research practicum I’ve supervised:
Anorexia: A phenomenological case-study

PSYC 499 - Directed Studies in Psychology 
A one-term course where I supervise a senior-level student, or small group of students, for in-depth study on an agreed-upon topic.

Examples of directed studies I've supervised:
Psychology in postmodern perspective: Critical reflections on modernity & social science (in collaboration with Dr. Jeff Dudiak, professor of philosophy)
The Psychology of Sacrifice

Related Links

Psychology Major Program | Psychology Minor Program

The Person in Society, Every Year, Winter 3(3-0-0)

Introduction to the study of human individuality, personality, normal and abnormal human development, psychological assessment and treatment and the psychic processes of social relationships. Evaluation of various approaches to these psychological issues. Students with credit in PSYC 256 cannot receive credit in PSYC 251.

Psychology of Religion, 2010-11, Winter 3(3-0-0)

An introduction to religion viewed from psychological perspectives. In this course the student will gain: 1. An acquaintance with religious themes as exemplified in myths, rituals, and diverse practices of different religions, 2. An introduction to a variety of psychological approaches to religion (naturalistic, humanistic, phenomenological, comparative, psychoanalytic), and 3. A critical appreciation of the ethically sensitive and methodologically difficult issues involved with the study of religion and religiosity (such as ethnocentrism and reductionism) from a Christian faith perspective. The reading of primary text(s) will be an essential part of the course.

Prerequisites: PSYC 250 or 251

Social Psychology, Every Year, Fall 3(3-0-0)

An introduction to the relationship between individuality and social context. The course covers the history of the field and its relationship to disciplines such as sociology and anthropology. 'Classic' social psychological experiments will be reviewed and experimental, evolutionary, and cross-cultural approaches compared. Other topics include: social cognition and perception, authority and obedience, conformity, depersonalization and institutionalization, attitudes and prejudice, attraction and aggression, normatively, ideology, and socialization and enculturation. Same as SOCI 340.

Prerequisites: PSYC 250 or 251 or three credits in sociology at the introductory level.

Psychology of Personality, Every Year, Fall 3(3-0-0)

A survey of classical and contemporary theories of personality with reference to the personal histories of their originators and to the structure, dynamics and function of the theories within their cultural context.

Prerequisites: PSYC 250 or 251

History of Psychology, Every Year, Fall 3(3-0-0)

A study of the main concepts and major schools of psychology in their historical development. This course traces the development of psychology from its earlier status as a branch of philosophy to its present status as a special science.

Prerequisites: PHIL 230 and six credits in psychology at the 300-level

Senior Psychology Seminar, Every Year, Winter 3(0-3-0)

This seminar is designed for students obtaining a terminal degree in psychology. Theoretical, ethical and methodological foundations of psychology are explored through reading, discussion and seminar presentations.

Prerequisites: Nine credits in psychology at the 300- or 400-level. Course normally taken in final year of degree.