Course Description
This course is an overview of the study of the development of human behavior and mental processes over the life span from conception through late adulthood including death and dying. The emphasis in the course is on the complex interaction of the principles of physical, social, cognitive and personality development. This course carries SUNY General Education Social Science credit.
Topic Outline
1. 1) The Science of Human Development
a) The scientific method
b) The nature-nurture controversy
c) The Life Span Perspective (e.g., development is multicultural, plastic, multidirectional etc..)
i) Theories of human development
ii) Psychoanalytic theory
iii) Humanistic theory
iv) Behaviorism
v) Cognitive theory
vi) Evolutionary theory
2) From Conception to Birth
a) Genes & chromosomes
b) Twins
c) Zygotic, Embryonic and fetal development
d) Problems (e.g., abnormal genes and chromosomes, teratogenic harm, low birthweight)
e) Prenatal testing
3) Infant growth
a) Physical growth & brain development
b) Motor skills and the senses
c) Immunization and nutrition
4) Infant cognition
a) Language
b) Psychosocial development of infants
c) Emotional development
d) Social bonds (e.g., synchrony, attachment, insecure attachment, social referencing)
e) Theories of infant psychosocial development (Psychoanalytic theory, Behaviorism, Cognitive
theory)
f) Infant day care
5) Physical development in early childhood
a) Growth patterns & brain development
b) Nutrition
c) Cognitive development- Preoperational thought (Piaget) & Social Learning Theory (Vygotsky)
d) Language learning the vocabulary explosion, acquiring grammar & learning two languages
e) Early childhood education
6) Psychosocial development in early childhood
a) Emotional development- Eirkson's initiative vs. guilt
b) Brain maturation, motivation, play
c) Styles of caregiving
d) Sex and gender
e) Aggression
f) Discipline
g) Child maltreatment & prevention
7) Physical development in middle childhood
a) Health habits & health problems (e.g. obesity, asthma)
b) Cognition (e.g. Piaget, Vygotsky, information processing)
c) Schooling
d) Intellectual disability, disorders that effect learning & special education
8) Psychosocial development in middle childhood
a) Self-concept
b) Culture & self-esteem
c) Resilience & stress
d) Family structure & family function
e) Family trouble
f) Peer group- the culture of children
g) Moral reasoning & what children value
9) Physical development in adolescence
a) Puberty
b) Cognition- brain development, formal operational thought (Piaget)
c) Analytical thinking & intuitive thinking
d) Middle school & high school
10) Psychosocial development in adolescence
a) Identity formation
b) Relationships (with adults, peers & romantic relationships)
c) Depression
d) Delinquency & defiance
e) Drug use and abuse and prevention
11) Physical development in emerging adulthood
a) Staying strong & active
b) Challenges to health
c) Taking risks
12) Psychosocial development in emerging adulthood
a) Cognitive development- Post-formal thought & brain development
i) The effects of college
ii) The effects of diversity
b) Identity achievement
c) Personality
d) Intimacy & cohabitation
13) Physical development in adulthood
a) Exercise & diet
b) Drug use
c) Disease & stress
d) Sex & fertility
e) The aging brain-pathological changes, & intelligence, including its many components
14) Psychosocial development in adulthood
a) Theories of adult personality
b) Personality traits
c) Friends, family & romantic partners
d) Parenthood, caregiving
e) Employment
15) Physical development in late adulthood
a) Prejudice & stereotypes about aging & the elderly
b) Aging brain & brain diseases
16) Psychosocial development in late adulthood
a) Self theories & (e.g., Erikson & others)
b) Stratification theories (the impact of race, gender & SES on aging)
c) Working
d) Religious involvement
e) Political activity
f) Friends & relatives
g) Frail elderly
17) Death and Dying
a) Cultures
b) Understanding death throughout the life span
c) Choices in dying
d) Mourning & grief