PSY 16: Developmental Psychology

Humans are children for longer than any other species on the planet. We are born especially helpless and dependent on others. We start unable to walk, talk, or even grasp objects. Yet, somehow we become people who invent things like airplanes or democracy. In this class, we will consider what happens to our minds throughout development. We will focus on infancy and childhood. We will answer questions such as: what is the experience of a baby? – do they experience their environment as “one great blooming, buzzing confusion.”, as William James proposed? Or do they come to the world with knowledge that gives structure to their experience? How do children become experts in their language? How are the minds of children and infants similar to adults and how are they different?  This is a communication and analytical thinking intensive course. You will learn about the different ways that scholars have approached these questions and get hands-on experience thinking through them yourself.