PSY-205 Adolescent Psychology
This course provides an overview of human development during adolescence which occurs from age 11 through 19 years of age. Biological, cognitive, and socio-emotional development during adolescence are studied. Families, schools and cultures are emphasized as contexts for development. This course will primarily focus on normal development of the adolescent however, some attention will be directed to some of the more common or particularly problematic disorders of adolescence. This course carries SUNY General Education Social Sciences credit.
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Course Outline
Course Description
This course provides an overview of human development during adolescence which occurs from age 11 through 19 years of age. Biological, cognitive, and socio-emotional development during adolescence are studied. Families, schools and cultures are emphasized as contexts for development. This course will primarily focus on normal development of the adolescent however, some attention will be directed to some of the more common or particularly problematic disorders of adolescence. This course carries SUNY General Education Social Sciences credit.
Credit Hours
3SUNY General Education Course
Course Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate the methods that are employed to study adolescent development throughout the life span.
- Distinguish between the psychological approaches to adolescent development and their contribution to the field, (e.g. humanistic, behavioral, or psychodynamic approaches).
- Analyze controversies and issues using psychological approaches to adolescent development.
- Apply different theories/approaches of adolescent psychology used to interpret adolescent behavior in a variety of social settings.
Topic Outline
- 1. Introduction to adolescent development
- a. Adolescence in Western cultures: a brief history
- b. The scientific study of adolescence and emerging adulthood
- i. Methods and designs in research
- ii. Interdisciplinary approach to the study of adolescence
- c. Adolescence around the world
- 2. Biological foundations
- a. Puberty
- b. Cultural, social, and psychological responses to puberty
- c. Biological development and the environment
- 3. Cognitive foundations
- a. Piaget's theory of cognitive development
- i. Abstract thinking
- ii. Metacognition
- b. The information-processing approach
- c. Critical thinking and decision making
- d. Social cognition and adolescent egocentrism
- 4. Cultural beliefs
- a. Cultural beliefs and socialization
- b. Cultural beliefs in a multicultural society
- c. Religious beliefs
- d. Moral development
- e. Political beliefs
- 5. Gender
- a. Gender in traditional cultures
- b. Cultural beliefs about gender
- c. Socialization and gender in Western cultures
- d. Gender and globalization
- 6. The self
- a. Culture and self
- b. Self-esteem
- c. Identity
- 7. Family relationships
- a. The adolescent in the family system
- b. Parenting styles
- c. Attachments to parents
- d. Divorce, remarriage, single parenthood, and dual-earner families
- e. Physical and sexual abuse in the family
- 8. Friends and peers
- a. Developmental changes in friendships
- b. Friends' influence and peer pressure
- c. Popularity and unpopularity
- d. Youth culture
- 9. Love and sexuality
- a. Developmental course of adolescent love
- b. Sternberg's theory of love
- c. Falling in love and breaking up
- d. Marriage, including arranged marriages
- e. Cohabitation
- f. Sexuality
- 10. School
- a. Characteristics of effective schools
- b. Engagement and achievement in high school
- 11. Work
- a. Adolescent work in traditional cultures
- b. Work and adolescent development
- c. Part-time work while in high school
- d. Occupational choice
- e. Unemployment
- f. Volunteer work and community service
- 12. Media
- a. Theories of media influence
- b. Media and adolescent socialization
- c. Controversial media
- 13. Psychological problems and resilience
- a. Two types of problems
- i. Externalizing
- (1) Risky behavior
- (2) Substance use
- (3) Delinquency and crime
- ii. Internalizing
- (1) Depression and suicide
- (2) Eating disorders
- b. Resilience