SOC 169/PSY 130/HDV 180: Psychosocial Aspects of Human Development

This course will trace cultural, behavioral, and social arenas of human development throughout the human life span, emphasizing the comparisons within socially constructed age groups. Age groups (e.g., childhood, middle age) are examined in terms of their unique ethical values and challenges as well as the social dilemmas cause by the extension of life expectancy. We compare psychosocial development (1) between men and women, (2) among African-Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasian, and (3) different socioeconomic strata. Biological development is brought in when it expands understanding of psychosocial issues. Students participate in a service learning project with the Duke LEAPS program in which they volunteer at one of several centers in Durham that provide senior care (e.g., retirement communities, nursing homes, meals on wheels). Brief daily entries in a LEAPS journal allow students to describe and analyze the social and cultural challenges of being old in contemporary American society.

Reading Assignments:

Kail, Robert V., and Cavanaugh, John C. (1996). Human Development. Brooks/Cole Publishing Company: Pacific Grove, CA.

Term Papers: Students will be required to write two papers as indicated below:

1. One short paper (4-5 pages) on a developmental topic related to childhood or adolescence (Due February 13th).
   
2. a research paper (15-20 pages) on a developmental topic related to young adulthood, middle age, or late life. This topic should be particularly relevant to one stage of the life course (e.g., coping with losses in late life;). Peer-reviewed journal articles provide the best sources; Internet sites are unacceptable for academic research. NOTE: If you provide a URL (e.g., www.XXXX.com) in your bibliography, your grade on the paper will be lowered one grade (Due last day of class ).

In addition to the papers, you have a Journal Article Review requirement (explained on page 3) and a LEAPS requirement (explained below).

LEAPS (Learning through Experience, Action, Partnership, and Service)

In addition to your papers and journal article assignments, this class has a required LEAPS or Service Learning component. If you are unfamiliar with LEAPS, you will learn quickly as someone from the LEAPS program will also be in to talk with us very soon. LEAPS gives you the opportunity to "learn while doing" and also exposes you to sides of human development and life that you might not otherwise see. For this class, the LEAPS coordinator will help you find a volunteer placement at a local organization serving senior citizens (nursing home, life care community, senior center or whatever). To meet the LEAPS requirement for the class, you must do the following:

1. Spend a minimum of two hours a week or 20 total hours during the semester at an approved LEAPS site. (Week 1 of classes and spring break do not count.)


2. Keep a journal of those 20 hours, recording special circumstances or experiences and identifying what you learn while volunteering. This is not a diary; simply listing your activities is insufficient. The journal must have 10 entries, 1 per 2 hour block. Each entry should be 1 handwritten page in length. If you prefer to type, that's fine. Journal due the final day of class (April 22).


3. Reflection sessions will be held at intervals during the semester. These are sessions run by the LEAPS student coordinators that give you an opportunity to discuss your experiences as well as hear about those of the other students. It is also a place where gripes can be discussed (though they shouldn't just turn into gripe sessions). You will need to attend four (4) reflection sessions during the semester. The leaders will keep attendance records and give them to me at the end of the semester.

Students who have participated LEAPS before have not only learned a great deal from it but have also really enjoyed it! In fact, I had several students last year who felt that one session in a nursing home taught them more than all of their classes! If you have questions, please fee free to ask.

Grade To Be Based On: