This course is a survey of maturational and learned behaviors as they develop through all life phases. Human behavioral development is traced from prenatal stages through infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and later life. Physical, cognitive, and social development are considered, along with the development of language and personality. The effects of family and home environment on the development of children are examined. Current trends in the family, the impact of society on the family and the child, as well as the influence of values on family interactions, are explored.
Students explore the way in which problems can be transformed into opportunities.
Topical issues include models of thinking, simulation, and creativity. The concept of personality is explored via the developmental theories of several social scientists. The impact of personality upon such processes as intelligence, anxiety, health, aggression, altruism, and moral behavior is studied. This course is a study of the impact of social institutions on the behavior of the individual, as well as the impact of the individual on the group. Topics include attitudes, beliefs, public opinion, propaganda, leadership, prejudice, and international tension.