OSHER 640 - Psychology: Where Have I Been and Where am I Going. Perspectives Across our Life Span

All our life experiences from childhood on affect our growth and development. Are you interested in learning about how early experiences affect people later in life? Have you thought about how your relationships with your children and friends change across different phases of life? Have you thought about how to optimize your aging experience (e.g., improve your memory)? What impacts development more: genes or experiences? This course will provide an introduction to the theories and concepts important in the field of human growth and development and how they may be applied to personal life situations. We will talk about development of the body, mind, and social relationships at all stages across the lifespan from conception until death. The class is designed for active participation of students through discussions on how theories and research findings apply to daily life situations and personal experiences.