PS 350 - Human Development in the Spanish Socio-Cultural Context

This course takes a comparative approach to Spanish and American life-span development with a focus on identity, culture, relationality and socialization. The course adopts a bio-psycho-social perspective, drawing from research that demonstrates the importance of the interaction between nature and nurture. Movies will be used to illustrate and explore the key issues addressed. Adolescences and the emerging adulthood stage of human development—from 18-25 years of age—will be examined in detail with an eye to key challenges that may be differentially contemplated in Spain and the US.

The first part of the course will provide students with an introduction to developmental psychology from a relational bio-psycho-social perspective. The course then proceeds to explore developmental explanations for differences in Spanish and US identities and socialization by considering the effects of Spanish and American socio-cultural contexts on development. Students will be encouraged to bring their experiences and observations of life in Spain and the US into discussions of the course material.