Why Am I Like This? - An 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 hopefully be able to answer these questions.

This course will give 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 more. Students will be given a brief introduction on 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, birth order, 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.

For a final project, students will become junior developmentalists and create a psychological profile of an individual in their family (or of themselves).