Why Am I Like This? - Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Course Description

Have you ever wondered, why do I act this way? Or why do the people around me act in ways much differently than I do? By the end of this course, you will be equipped to answer these questions.

This course gives students a broad introduction to developmental psychology and foundational theories of human development. Course content will touch on theories such as Freud's psychodynamic theory, Ainsworth and Bowlby's attachment theory, Bandura's social learning theory, and many more. Students will be given a brief introduction to the basics of psychological science and developmental methodologies. Students will be able to discuss thought-provoking questions such as, what does ""development"" even mean? What is considered ""normal"" development and what is considered ""abnormal""?

Special topics to be discussed include language development, gender role development, careers in psychology, and the impact of trauma or neurodiversity on the trajectory of development. Students should use discretion as we will discuss sensitive topics related to trauma and disability.

For a final project, students will become junior developmentalists and create a psychological profile of an individual in their family or of themselves. These will be in the form of slideshows presented to the class on the final day. Time will be allotted each day of the week for students to create their slideshows. Using the theories and concepts learned in this course, your presentation aims to answer the question ""why am I like this?"