The focus is on describing the significant changes in physical, cognitive, social and emotional development and on explaining why these changes occur. There is an emphasis on the immediate contextual influences of families, peer groups, and schools as well as on the broader contextual influences of subculture, culture, and historical era. The course is the first half of PSY 022 and PSY 032. This course examines the similarities and differences between males and females in how they develop, behave and perceive the world. The goal is to achieve an understanding of the impact of sex roles and sex-role stereotyping in shaping the structure and function of educational, social and working environments.
Thought is central to our functioning in coping with both the physical and the social environment.
Research and theories of how individual and social factors affect the efficiency of these processes will be examined, and the consequences of poor thinking processes for the individual and for society will be considered. All of us hold beliefs about what it means to be an adult and what it means to grow old. In this course, students examine their beliefs in light of scientific evidence on adult development and aging. Theories and empirical findings related to changes in physical, cognitive, personality, and social processes are examined. Contextual influences of family, culture, and historical era are emphasized.