PSY 2103 - Human Development


Theories		6	0	0
Definitions	Define development and describe the goals of studying development, the assumptions of developmentalists and the debates about human development.
History	Discuss important historical figures and trends in the study of human development.
Contemporary theories	Describe the contemporary theories of development.
Research methods		3	0	0
Observation	Describe the methods for collecting observations of developing individuals.
Correlations	Describe the correlational method.
Correlations	Analyze the strengths and the weaknesses of correlations.
The experimental method	Describe the steps of the experimental method.
	Analyze the strengths and the weaknesses of the experimental method.
	Describe and critique the strategies used to identify developmental change in research studies.
Nature and Nurture		5	0	0
Basic genetics	Describe basic genetics.
	Describe methods of gene interaction.
	Describe methods of genetic transmission.
Behavior Genetics	Describe the methods and findings of behavior genetics.
Ethology	Describe the methods and findings of ethology.
Ethology	Compare and contrast behavior genetics and ethology.
Nature and nurture	Analyze mechanisms by which nature and nurture interact to shape development.
Physical Development: Prenatal development, birth, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, aging, and death		12	0	0
Prenatal development	Describe the stages of prenatal development.
Prenatal development	Analyze the effects of teratogens on prenatal development.
Birth	Describe important aspect of the perinatal environment.
Birth	Analyze the impact of contemporary medicalized childbirth.
Infancy	Describe the physical changes that occur during infancy.
	Describe the role of the endocrine system during infant development.
	Describe the development of the brain and nervous system during infancy.
Childhood	Describe the physical changes that occur during childhood.
	Describe the role of the endocrine system during childhood.
	Describe the development of the brain and nervous system during childhood.
Puberty and adolescence	Describe the physical changes that occur at the time of puberty.
	Describe the role of the endocrine system at puberty.
	Describe the development of the brain and nervous system during puberty.
Adulthood and aging	Describe the physical changes that occur in adulthood and aging.
	Describe the changes in the endocrine system during adulthood and aging.
	Describe the changes in the brain and nervous system during adulthood and aging.

Cognitive Development: Learning, Perception, and Language Development		12	0	0
Piaget	Describe Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
Piaget	Analyze contemporary research on Piaget’s theory.
Vygotsky	Describe Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development.
Vygotsky	Compare and contract Piaget and Vygotsky.
Perception	Describe strategies for measuring infant perception.
	Describe changes in vision across the lifespan.
	Describe changes in hearing across the lifespan.
	Describe changes in taste, smell, temperature, touch and pain across the lifespan.
Memory	Describe changes in memory across the lifespan.
Moral Development	Describe Kohlberg’s stages of moral development.
	Analyze contemporary perspectives on Kohlberg.
	Describe strategies for fostering moral development in children.
Language	Describe the components of language.
	Describe language development across the lifespan.
	Analyze theories of language development.
Education	Describe changes in mastery and achievement motivation across the lifespan.
Social Development: Temperament, Emotions, Personality, Attachment, Parenting and Family Relationships		12	0	0
Self concept	Describe the development of the self concept in infancy and changes in the self concept across the lifespan.
Self esteem	Describe the emergence self esteem in childhood and changes in the self esteem across the lifespan.
Personality	Analyze major theories of personality.
	Discuss the relationship between temperament and personality.
	Describe important theories of infant temperament.
	Describe personality stability and change across the lifespan.
Attachment	Describe infant and caregiver behaviors that contribute to attachment.
	Describe the major types of attachment and their antecedents.
	Describe the measurement of attachment.
	Describe the relationship between infant attachment and adult attachment style.
Peers	Describe changes in infant play and the development of peer relationships.
Peers	Describe the changing significance of parents, peers, and romantic relationship partners across the lifespan.
The family	Describe the importance of father presence in families.
	Describe the important dimensions of parenting and the major parenting styles.
	Describe the relationship between parenting behaviors and child outcomes.
	Describe major changes in the American family that have occurred since the 1850s.
	Discuss the impact of divorce on children and families.
	Discuss the impact of daycare on children and families.
Death and Dying	Describe the experience of death.
Death and Dying	Describe the bereavement process across the lifespan

Suggested Resources

Media Print Audio/Visual Web Other
Print	Sigelman, C.K., Rider, E.A. (2003). Life Span Human Development. (4^th ed.). Wadsworth/Thomas Learning.

Posted: 10/08/08

Competency Areas	Hours
Theories	Class	5
Research Methods	D. Lab	0
Nature and Nurture	P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Physical Development: Prenatal Development, Birth, Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence, Adulthood, Aging, and Death	Credit	5
Cognitive Development: Learning, Perception, and Language Development
Social Development: Temperament, Emotions, Personality, Attachment, Parenting and Family Relationships

Prerequisite:	PSY 1101
Corequisite:

D.Lab

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