Developmental Psychology Michael Hoerger

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

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?

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

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

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

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: 40-50 pts

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

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?

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

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

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

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

What are some effective and ineffective ways of disciplining children?

Is peer pressure important? Commercials? http://abovetheinfluence.com/the-ads/default.aspx Is peer pressure important? Commercials?

Is personality stable or changeable throughout the lifespan?

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

What is love?

What are the keys to healthy aging?

What causes happiness?

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

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

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.