Fundamentals of Social Development

Catalog description

An introduction to theories, current issues, and critical psychological research findings relating to social and emotional development. PSY 547 Fundamentals of Social Development (3) This course will focus on children's social and emotional development with an emphasis on the various agents that play a part in children's socialization. An important assumption underlying this course and guiding its content is that growth in social and emotional competence emerges from children's experiences in their relationships with other people, especially parents, siblings, and friends. In addition, we will assume that socialization is bi-directional, that is, that children influence their relationships even as their relationships influence them. The goals for the course are as follows: To enhance understanding and familiarity with the methods and findings of the scientific literature on social development; to provide an understanding of the how of theory and cultural assumptions influence empirical research and how to recognize the implications of theory for research; to enhance understanding of the variability that exists among individuals in terms of social experiences and the growth and development of social competence; to develop or extend students' skills for scholarly communication by providing opportunities to make presentations and produce written work in formats that mimic those used by professionals in the field.