Cross-Cultural Childhoods
PSYC 339
Fall 2012
| Section:
01
|
| Crosslisting:
ANTH 239 |
The course will begin by examining different attitudes and practices during prenatal development and continue through early adulthood. We will consider the perspectives of the child, parents, other family members, and larger society. Developmental experiences will be examined in traditional societies and developing nations, as well as in modern industrialized societies. A wide range of developmental topics will be considered. Examples of topics in child development include weaning practices, sleep patterns, paternal contribution, education, sibling relationships, and childcare practices. Examples of topics in adolescence and early adulthood include anxiety in adolescence and the age of economic independence, sexual activity, and marriage. Some disturbing and controversial material will be discussed in a respectful atmosphere (e.g., cultural relativism and severe neglect). Students will have the opportunity to opt out of potentially disturbing discussions. The strengths and weaknesses of multiple theoretical approaches to development will be addressed and debated. A few examples of these theories include cultural relativism, universal learning mechanisms, evolutionary ecology, and evolutionary psychology. |
|
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS PSYC |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
|
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (PSYC) |
|
Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
LeVine, R.A. & New, R.S. (2008). Anthropology and Child Development: A Cross-Cultural Reader
Small, Meredith F. (2001). Kids: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Raise Young Children
Hrdy, Sarah Blaffer (2000). Mother Nature: Maternal Instincts and the Shaping of the Species
Shostak, Marjorie, (1981). Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman
This course will rely on a wide range of readings including: excerpts from classic ethnographies, recent and classic theoretical essays on the study of child development, primary research literature and selections from popular periodicals.
|
Examinations and Assignments:
Midterm, final exam, final paper, quizzes. |
| Instructor(s): Schug,Mariah Gabrielle Times: ..T.... 07:00PM-09:50PM; Location: JUDD113; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 15 | Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. |
| Web Resources: Syllabus |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 2 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 2 |
|
|