Social Emotional Devt

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This graduate course examines the theories, empirical literature, and issues that are essential for understanding social development. The course takes a life-span perspective, examining the development of social and emotional understanding from birth up through old age and death. A focal question guiding these inquiries is the extent to which there is constancy and change in basic social processes over the life span. To that end we explore links between various social processes, such as attachment and later friendship formation, or between empathy, prosocial behavior, and the development of moral character. Neuroscietific research on social and emotional development comprises a significant aspect of the readings and discussions. Among the stages of development considered are: childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, parenthood, middle age, old age, and mortality.