Spring 2025 - PSYC 450 D200

Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology (4)

Social and Moral Development

Class Number: 5317

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    PSYC 201, 210, 250 and 60 units, and a CGPA of 3.0. Other prerequisites vary by topic offering.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Course can be repeated for credit. Students may not take this course for further credit if similar topics are covered. See Psychology department website for course description.

COURSE DETAILS:

In this seminar we will focus on the interrelated topics of social, emotional, communicative and moral development, as well as prosocial development and the development of the self (which covers many aspects of being human). This involves reviewing and evaluating a range of theories and research in these areas. Evaluating theories and research also involves being aware of and critiquing the presuppositions on which they are based, i.e., worldviews. In order to adequately evaluate some current claims in developmental psychology that forms of thinking are innate, it will be necessary to have some rudimentary understanding of aspects of biology, in particular genetics and developmental neuroscience at a very basic level (there will be a couple of articles on these topics). In order to think about the biological aspects of development some understanding of developmental systems theory in conceptualizing debates about relations between biological and social factors will be needed. In general, the focus of this course will be to introduce a way of thinking in terms of focusing on relations and the social and communicative foundations of human thinking, especially focusing on social understanding and moral development, and this approach also makes relevant the cultures in which children develop.

Grading

  • Weekly thought papers (8, approx. 500 words each): 30%
  • Class participation: 20%
  • Paper: 50%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Articles and chapters to read in preparation for each week's discussion will be available online.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.