2017-2018 Academic Catalog

Apr 23, 2024

2017-2018 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

PSYC 384 - Culture and Human Development

How do behaviors pertaining to infant attachment, puberty, and romantic love vary from culture to culture? How do views of respect for parental authority, the value of autonomy, and the meaning of being an adult vary from culture to culture? And how do such behaviors and views intersect with psychological conceptions of what is healthy vs. unhealthy, normal vs. abnormal? In the course “Culture and Human Development” (Psych 384), we examine the ways an individual’s psychological and social development takes place in cultural context, from infancy to adulthood. Readings include qualitative and quantitative studies of different parts of the life span in diverse cultures (globally and within the United States). While most readings are drawn from psychology, some readings are by anthropologists, legal scholars, and literary authors. Course content has implications for theoretical, research, and applied purposes. The course format is highly interactive, including discussion of readings, class exercises, guest visitors who grew up in different cultures, films, and student presentations. Course Requirements: For clinical psychology Ph.D. students, this course satisfies the “social” APA requirement. For developmental psychology Ph.D. students, it satisfies the developmental graduate seminar requirement. Graduate students from all other programs and departments are welcome.

Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered periodically