Advanced Developmental Psychology (PSY 620P), Spring 2015 Tuesday, Thursday 11:00 am – 12:15 pm, FLP 302 Department of Psychology, University of Miami Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:30 - 2:30, and by appointment
Instructor: Daniel Messinger, Ph.D. Office Hours: Tuesday 12:30pm-3:30pm, or by appointment Office: FLP 308 E-mail:[email protected] Phone: (305) 284-8443
Course Description: In this course we will cover a number of current topics in developmental psychology. The course is divided into four modules. In the first module, developmental theories, methodologies and conceptualizations of the internal and external processes that jointly influence development will be discussed. In the second module, an overview of specific domains of development (perceptual, cognitive, social/emotional) will be covered. In the third module, socialization processes will be discussed with an emphasis on parent, peer, school, and community influences on development. In the final module, issues pertaining to emerging adulthood and the transition through adulthood will be discussed. Throughout the semester, emphasis will be placed on mechanisms underlying continuity and change over the lifespan.
Required Readings: Bornstein, M. H., & Lamb, M. E. (2011). Developmental Science: An Advanced Textbook (6th Edition). New York, NY: Psychology Press. Each week, 3 to 6 additional readings will be assigned that are representative of current empirical work in the field. These papers will be available on Blackboard or linked to this syllabus.
Exams: Students will complete a take-home midterm (DUE MARCH 18th) and a take-home final (DUE MAY 4th) exam. Exams will be short essay format and will require students to reflect upon and integrate the readings and class discussions. Together the exams are 65%of your final grade. Exams will be submitted through BlackBoard’s SafeAssign. They are governed by the Honor code: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received any aid on this exam/paper, etc.” Please review the graduate honor code here.
Discussion Facilitation:Students will be responsible for facilitating discussion during class approximately 4 times over the course of the semester. To do so, you will be responsible for presenting the article and coordinating class discussion. Please familiarize yourself with the class’ online slides as you will use them to present your article. As needed, please edit the slides and create new slides. If you create a new slide, please consider putting your last name in the footer section of the slide. Slides will be due by email 12 hours before class. Your presentations should cover integrative themes across the readings (particularly for that day), the pros and cons of different research methods for addressing the topic, and ideas regarding potential future directions/applications of the findings. The discussion sessions you are responsible for will be worth 20% of your final grade and will be based on the thoughtfulness and quality of your presentations and ensuing discussion.
Thought Questions: Once during the semester, please share a question or comment about the readings with the class (and the person who is presenting that reading) through the Blackboard Discussion Board. Questions are due 24 hours before class. This will help facilitate discussion.
Participation: 15% of your final grade will be assigned based on your level of engagement and participation in classroom discussions, and your thought questions. Participation may include your written responses to in-class queries. These will be brief and typically cover a single key concept found in the readings that we have discussed in class. Attendance is mandatory.
Schedule of Classes and Assigned Readings
Week 1
January 13th – Introduction to Class; History and Systems in Developmental Psychology (ppt1)
January 15th – History and Systems in Developmental Psychology (ppt2)
Bornstein & Lamb: Chapter 1. Lerner, R. M., Lewin-Bizan, S., & Alberts Warren, A. E. (2011). Concepts and theories of Human Development.
11. Lister, R., Mukamel, E. A., Nery, J. R., Urich, M., Puddifoot, C. A., Johnson, N. D., Lucero, J., Huang, Y., Dwork, A. J., Schultz, M. D., Yu, M., Tonti-Filippini, J., Heyn, H., Hu, S., Wu, J. C., Rao, A., Esteller, M., He, C., Haghighi, F. G., Sejnowski, T. J., Behrens, M. M., & Ecker, J. R. (2013). Global epigenomic reconfiguration during mammalian brain development. Science, 341(6146), 1237905. doi: 10.1126/science.1237905. lisa1
30. Reeb-Sutherland, B.C., Levitt, P., & Fox, N.A. (2012). The predictive nature of individual differences in early associative learning and emerging social behavior. PLoS ONE; 7: e30511. PDF BreAnne2
Optional:
Somerville, L.H., Jones, R.M., Ruberry, E.J., Dyke, J.P., Glover, G., & Casey, B.J.(2013). The medial prefrontal cortex and the emergence of self-conscious emotion in adolescence. Psychological Science, 24, 1554-1562. PDF
Fraley, R. C., Griffin, B. N., Belsky, J., & Roisman, G. I. (2013). Developmental antecedents of political ideology: A longitudinal investigation from birth to age 18. Psychological Science, 23, 1425-1431
Coplan, R. J., Prakash, K., O’Neil, K., & Armer, M. (2004). Do you “want” to play? Distinguishing between conflicted shyness and social disinterest in early childhood. Developmental Psychology, 40, 244-258.
Howes, C., Sanders, K., & Lee, L. (2008). Entering a new peer group in ethnically and linguistically diverse childcare classrooms. Social Development, 17,
Clampet-Lundquist, S., Edin, K., Kling, J. R., & Duncan, G. J. (2011). Moving teenagers out of high-risk neighborhoods: How girls fare better than boys. American Journal of Sociology, 116, 1154-1189.
Lee, C., & Gramotnev, H. (2007). Life transitions and mental health in a national cohort of young Australian women. Developmental Psychology, 43, 877-888.
Masten, A. S., & Tellegen, A. (2012). Resilience in developmental psychopathology: Contributions of the Project Competence Longitudinal Study. Development and Psychopathology, 24, 345-361.
April 16th – Beyond Childhood: Transition to parenthood (ppt26)
Feldman, R., Sussman, A. L., Zigler, E. (2004). Parental leave and work adaptation at the transition to parenthood: Individual, marital, and social correlates. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 25, 459-479.