1. Developmental Psychology
Michael Hoerger

2. Overview Syllabus: Last Page Background Information More Syllabus
Class Discussion
Note Cards

3. Syllabus: Last Page Your information & voting for lecture topics
My information:
Hoerger rhymes with Burger, but you can call me Mike
Graduate of MSU, originally from Midland
Clinical Psychology: Personality disorders, depression, happiness, choking under pressure
Go Pistons! Questions?

4. Background Information
What is Developmental Psychology?
“The science that seeks to understand the ways in which people change and stay the same as they grow older.” --Berger, p. 3
The study of the individual’s social, emotional, cognitive, and biological development throughout the lifespan
Focus has shifted from infants and children to people of all ages

5. Background Information
Why study developmental psychology?
Knowledge relevant to multiple domains
Practical information for your own life
Bedwetting, crying babies, peer pressure, drinking, love, sex, careers, families, healthy aging
Social policy implications
Head Start, midnight basketball, HPV vaccine
Critical research skills

6. More Syllabus Course web site Contacting me Office hours Book 
Typical class
Cheating

7. Grades A = 93%, A- = 90% B+ = 87%, B = 83%, B- = 80%
C+ = 77%, C = 73%, C- = 70%
D+ = 67%, D = 63%, D- = 60%
1,000 points:
4 exams: 200 pts each
2 papers: 100 pts each
Extra credit: pts

8. Grades
Grades in this course will be based largely on effort. What you put in, you will get out.
“We maximize choice and enhance power by deciding for ourselves how much is good enough in each and every activity we engage in. We all have the inalienable right to waste our potential.” –Kaufman
Recommendations

9. Exams 4 regular exams; 1 make-up exam, which is a cumulative final
No additional make-ups
40 multiple choice questions
2 essays (some choice)
Study guide?

11. Papers
2 papers
Choose a personally relevant developmental psychology question
Paper #1: Compare popular articles versus scientific articles
Paper #2: Compare scientific articles
No two people can do the same questions
I will look very closely for plagiarism

13. Extra Credit Add 5% or more onto your grade!
Participate in psychology research
MLK Day – discuss next time
Student Research and Creative Endeavors Exhibition
Additional extra credit
Weekly question cards

14. Class Discussion Clarifies ambiguous information
Extends on vague information
Promotes diversity and creativity

15. Is it better to have a stay-at-home parent or place children in pre-school/daycare?

16. What are some effective and ineffective ways of disciplining children?

17. Is peer pressure important? Commercials?
Is peer pressure important? Commercials?

18. Is personality stable or changeable throughout the lifespan?

19. What is “intelligence” and are IQ tests valid measures of intelligence?

20. What is love?

21. What are the keys to healthy aging?

22. What causes happiness?

23. Genetic or environmental?
Alzheimer’s
Weight
Extraversion
Alcoholism
Happiness
Depression IQ

24. Note Card Assignment
Turn in a note card once a week with your name, the date, and an interesting question
Questions from the present reading or current events
Last names A – L: Mondays
Last names M – Z: Wednesdays

25. Michael Hoerger
To cite this lecture:
Hoerger, M. (2007, January 8). Introduction to Developmental Psychology. Presented at a PSY 220 lecture at Central Michigan University.