PSY 41 - Socio-Cultural Context of Psychological Development

Transfer Status

CSU/UC

Unit(s)

3.00

• Lecture: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)
• Total: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course examines psychological developmental theories emphasizing social and cultural influences on motivation, social-emotional and intellectual development. Exploration will emphasize how children are socialized from within the family, school, peer-groups, religious groups, media and communities. Psychological dynamics of power and sexual orientation are examined and how these influence individuals across lower socioeconomic environments and underrepresented groups as well as American Indian, Asian, Latin, Middle Eastern and Black cultures.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Recognize issues facing various groups in contemporary societies: ethnic, socio-economic, sexual orientation, and religious groups.
2. Analyze problems specifically related to child rearing for economically disadvantaged groups.
3. Explain how religious differences breed conflict socially and globally.
4. Evaluate children's needs from a broader, more culturally diverse perspective.
5. Describe ethnic differences and similarities among various groups and identify specific issues that influence and impact socialization.
6. Examine sexual orientation.
7. Identify major concepts and principles of developmental psychology.

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

1. Class Activities
2. Collaborative Group Work
3. Group Discussions
4. Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
5. Lecture
6. Multimedia Presentations
7. Reading Assignments
8. Independent Observation

1. Exams/Tests
2. Research Projects
3. Oral Presentation
4. Homework
5. Journal
6. Written Assignments
7. Group Participation

Reading Assignments

1. Read the chapter on the influences of social forces on human development and write a 200 word reflection on how such forces have affected your own world view.
2. Find a peer-reviewed article on the relationship between socio-economic status and psychological well-being, and write a 200-word reflection expressing your agreement or disagreement with the connection between the two.

Writing Assignments

1. Maintain a weekly written journal, with each entry consisting of 100 words, to reflect on your socialization and ethnic identity. Discuss the advantages or disadvantages you have encountered based on your ethnic group attribution.
2. Compose a 1200-word paper from the perspective of a member of a religious, ethnic, or gender identity group different from your current identification, sharing your insights and discoveries about that group as a result.

Out-of-Class Assignments

1. Conduct interviews with three individuals from ethnic, religious, or economic groups different from your own, and reflect in 300 words what you have learned about their lives, including their fears, obstacles, and successes. Compare and contrast their experiences with your own.
2. Participate in an event hosted by an ethnic group different from your own. Provide a 200 word reflective paragraph on your observations and insights gained from these experiences.

Gardiner, H. W. & Kosmitzki, C. (2021). Lives Across Cultures, Cross-Cultural Human Development. Pearson, 6th. 9780137517145.

Lori Strahan. (2020). Socio-Cultural Context of Psychological Development. OER, n/a. https://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=773402677.

Other Learning Materials

Related movies, book reports, and journal articles as assigned.

Psychology (Masters Required)