Fall 2013 Child Psychology
This hybrid will provide an overview of the basic principles in development from prenatal to adolescent. We will review trends in contemporary research on physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development from birth through adolescence and the impact of the interaction of these various aspects of development upon the individual as a whole. Major issues examined in this course include the relation of nature to nurture, of genes to environment, of the developing individual to the changing social context, and of mental health to school performance. We will begin with the history of developmental psychology, and research methodologies. We will discuss the contexts in which children live, with a particular focus on family, peers, and the larger cultural context. Then, we will examine physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development, with consideration of the cultural context, and focusing within each on examples of current research.
