PSY 227W - Lifespan Development

1. Summarize the major changes associated with each stage of development.
   1. Describe the field of Developmental Psychology.
   2. Examine the events surrounding conception, prenatal development, and birth.
   3. Describe the physical, cognitive, social, and moral characteristics of the following stages of development: newborn, infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood.
2. Describe the major theoretical approaches and research methods used in lifespan development.
   1. Describe and evaluate research strategies used in lifespan development (e.g., descriptive, correlational, experimental, twin studies, longitudinal, cross-sectional, cross-sequential).
   2. Describe the major theoretical approaches used in discussion of lifespan development (e.g., Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Kohlberg, Vygotsky, Bronfenbrenner, Bandura, Information Processing).
3. Evaluate information related to lifespan development in a manner that is consistent with current thinking and research in the field.
   1. Evaluate attachment theory.
   2. Evaluate parenting styles and the impact of each style.
   3. Explore special topics in infancy (e.g., prematurity, fetal alcohol syndrome, congenital disability).
   4. Explore special topics in childhood (e.g., ADHD, learning disabilities, bullying).
   5. Explore special topics in adolescence (e.g., suicide, self-injury, eating disorders).
   6. Explore special topics in aging (e.g., strategies for successful aging, care of the elderly).
   7. Explore special topics in death and dying (e.g., hospice care, euthanasia, death and grief).
4. Recognize the diversity of development across the lifespan both across individuals and across cultures.
   1. Describe the interactions between genetic and environmental factors.
   2. Describe the influence of the family, the peer group, and the school.
   3. Explore the impact of culture.
   4. Differentiate between normal variations in development and abnormal behavior.
5. Perform writing tasks to promote learning of concepts.
   1. Apply the principles and theories of development through the completion of projects and written reports.
   2. Reflect upon learning through in-class and out-of-class writing opportunities.