Most research on human development focuses on the early years in life, the years when children are forming strong attachments to caretakers, acquiring language and learning to navigate the world. Yet, people continue to change in systematic ways throughout life, and gains and losses are associated with every stage of life.

This Stanford seminar addresses adult development from the perspective of life-span theory –– a conceptual framework that views development as a series of adaptations to physical, societal, and individual resources and constraints. Students learn about the profound demographic and medical changes that will surely shape their own futures, as well as the ways that individuals typically change socially, emotionally, and cognitively as they move through adulthood.

Some of these changes are biologically based, others are rooted in motivation. Still others reflect a complex interaction between biological and psychological processes. The objective of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the conceptual foundations of the life-span approach and familiarize them with empirical findings in the literature as well as current controversies in the field.

How the course works: Each week students are required come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings. A one-page reaction paper must be posted on Coursework 24 hours prior to each class. For the final project, students must research a topic of particular interest in greater depth and prepare a written and oral report on it. Oral reports are given the last week of the quarter.