Human Growth and Development - Revised Schedule


COURSE OUTLINE


Date


Topic and Readings

August 13 Introduction to the class
Introduction to development
Research methodology

Readings:

  • Comstock: Chapter 1 - Traditional Models of Development: Appreciating Context and Relationship
  • Comstock: Chapter 2 - Relational-Cultural Theory: A Framework for Relational Development Across the Life Span
  • Woolf: Developmental Research Methods (on eReserve)
  • Woolf: Theoretical Perspectives (on eReserve)
August 27 Moral development
Identity Development

Readings:
  • Comstock: Chapter 15 - Spirituality and Spiritual Development in Context
  • Lerner and Alberts: Kochanska - Mutually Responsive Orientation between Mothers and Their Young Children: A Context for the Early Development of Conscience
  • Kuther and Wallace: Community Violence and Sociomoral Development: An African American Cultural Perspective (on eReserves)
    Presentation on above material by Ashley, Kori, and Jessica

  • Comstock: Chapter 3 - Critical Thinking: Challenging Developmental Myths, Stigmas, and Stereotypes
  • Comstock: Chapter 4 - Identify Development and the Convergence of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender

    Paper Topic Due

September 3 Labor Day, No Class - See Make-Up Date Listed Below - Sept. 29
September 10 - Online Class via class discussion list, readings, activities, and weblinks (to be provided in via email) Social, Emotional, and Personality Development

September 17 Social, Emotional, and Personality Development continued

Readings:
  • Comstock: Chapter 9 - The Developmental Impact of Trauma
  • Lerner and Alberts: Crick, Casas, and Nelson - Toward a More Comprehensive Understanding of Peer Maltreatment: Studies of Relational Victimization
    Presentation on above material by Clay and Alicia

  • Comstock: Chapter 16 - Fostering Resilience Throughout Our Lives: New Relational Possibilities
  • Lerner and Alberts: Berndt - Friendship Quality and Social Development
  • Leventhal and Brooks-Gunn - Children and Youth in Neighborhood Contexts
  • Lerner and Alberts: Asher and Paquette - Loneliness and Peer Relations in Childhood
  • Lerner and Alberts: Furman - The Emerging Field of Adolescent Romantic Relationships
    Presentation on above material by Taressa, Becky, and Melissa

  • Comstock: Chapter 12 - Grief, Loss, and Death
  • Comstock: Chapter 13 - Familial and Relational Transitions across the Life Span
  • Lerner and Alberts: Fincham - Marital Conflict: Correlates, Structure, and Content
  • Lerner and Alberts: Cox and Paley - Understanding Families as Systems
    Presentation on above material by Justine and Kim

  • Comstock: Chapter 14 - The Relational Impact of Addiction Across the Life Span
  • Lerner and Alberts: Serbin and Karp - Intergenerational Studies of Parenting and the Transfer of Risk from Parent to Child

Exam One Take Home - Due September 23 - woolflm@webster.edu

September 24 Gender Role Development
Sexuality

Readings:
  • Comstock: Chapter 6 - Women's Development
  • Comstock: Chapter 7 - Male Development and the Journey Toward Disconnection
    Presentation on above material by Jen, Donna, and Brooke

  • Comstock: Chapter 8 - Coming Out and Living Out Across the Life Span
  • Woolf: Gay and Lesbian Aging (on eReserve)

  • Comstock: Chapter 10 - Sexuality Across the Life Span
    Presentation on above material by Robin, Amy, and Daniela

September 29 Cognitive Development

Readings:
  • Siegler: Children's Learning (on eReserve)
  • Lerner and Alberts: Kolb, Gibb, and Robinson - Brain Plasticity and Behavior
  • Lerner and Alberts: Colombo - Infant Attention Grows Up: The Emergence of a Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective
  • Lerner and Alberts: Keen - Representation of Objects and Events: Why Do Infants Look So Smart and Toddlers Look So Dumb
  • Lerner and Alberts: Newcombe, Drummey, Fox, Lie, and Ottinger-Alberts - Remembering Early Childhood: How Much, How, and Why (or Why Not)

  • Sternberg: Culture and Intelligence (on eReserve)
  • Lerner and Alberts: Tomasello - Culture and Cognitive Development
  • Lerner and Alberts: Kuhn - Metacognitive Development
October 1 Cognitive Development

Readings:
    Comstock: Chapter - Gifted Development: It's Not Easy Being Green
  • Winner: The Origins and Ends of Giftedness (on eReserve)
  • Sternberg: A Systems Model of Leadership: WICS (on eReserve)
    Presentation on above material by Scott and Bill

  • Lerner and Alberts: Kramer and Willis - Enhancing the Cognitive Vitality of Older Adults
  • Lerner and Alberts: Li - Connecting the Many Levels and Facets of Cognitive Aging
  • Fritsch et al.: Cognitive Functioning in Healthy Aging: The Role of Reserve and Lifestyle Factors Early in Life (on eReserve)

Paper Due - Due October 1 - woolflm@webster.edu

October 8 Old Age

Presentations

Readings:
  • Lerner and Alberts: Wilson and Bennett - Cognitive Activity and Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
  • Rook: The Evolution of Social Relationships in Later Adulthood (on eReserve)
  • Birren: Using the Gift of Long Life: Psychological Implications of the Age Revolution (on eReserve)
  • VandenBos: Life-Span Developmental Perspectives on Aging: An Introductory Overview (on eReserve)

    Personal Reflection Paper Due - Due October 8 - woolflm@webster.edu

    Exam Two Take Home - Due October 12 - woolflm@webster.edu

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