PSY 230: Developmental Psychology

San Diego State University

Hybrid on-campus/online lecture class
(Some Friday lectures will be given online)
Spring 2020
Schedule # 22981

INSTRUCTOR: Amy Spilkin, Ph.D.

EMAIL: aspilkin@sdsu.edu (best way to reach me)
OFFICE HOURS: Mondays 12-1 pm, before class or by appointment
OFFICE LOCATION: GMCS-426

TA: Kalina Lamb

EMAIL: klamb-sw@sdsu.edu
OFFICE HOURS: 11 am – 12 pm Wed. 6363 Alvarado Ct., Suite 101

LECTURE: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 11:00pm-11:50pm

COURSE WEBSITE: http://blackboard.sdsu.edu/

“In the real world there is no nature vs. nurture argument, only an infinitely complex and
moment-by-moment interaction between genetic and environmental effects.”
~~Gabor Mate~~

COURSE OVERVIEW: Psychological development of the individual from conception

through childhood, adolescence, and maturity. Emphasis will be placed on
interdependence of various periods of the individual’s life.

The theme of this course is the study of human development at the theoretical,
scientific, and personal/introspective levels. The goal is to help you develop your base
of knowledge, skills, and values regarding human development and the lifespan.

CLASS ORGANIZATION: This class will consist primarily of lectures, class

discussions, and activities. Beyond the basics of developmental psychology, you will
have the opportunity to read and discuss recent articles in the field of psychology. We
will also view and discuss recent videos and complete activities in class to illustrate the
concepts. Questions about articles, videos, and class activities/discussions are “fair
game” for the exams.

***Please note that some Friday lectures will be online. These online classes may
consist of lectures, video clips, and/or activities. All information for each online session
will be posted on our class website on Blackboard and you will be required to complete
each activity/assignment listed.

CLASS PREREQUISITES: Psychology 101; Psy 230 is NOT OPEN TO students with
credit in CFD 270

Psychology 230, Spring 2020

Student Learning Objectives (SLO)
SLO 1.1 Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology
SLO 1.2 Describe psychology’s content domains
SLO 1.3 Describe applications of psychology
SLO 3.1 How does psychology inform our understanding of culture and diversity
SLO 3.2 How do psychological findings differ across cultures
SLO 3.3 Describe ethical considerations as they apply to culture and diversity
SLO 5.1 Describe how psychology information and skill sets can be applied to law, business,
health care, education, and other career opportunities
SLO 5.2 Be made aware of resources on campus for professional development
SLO 5.3 Develop general skills that can be used in a range of workplace environments (e.g.,
excel, word, stats skills, writing skills, communication)

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
• TEXT: Experiencing the Lifespan, 5th ed. Janet Belsky. Worth Publishers.
• ONLINE HOMEWORK: LearningCurve (access code needed)
o NOTE: The text and LearningCurve access have been bundled for you in
the SDSU bookstore
o You may purchase the ebook, along with LearningCurve access directly
from MacMillan.
o DO NOT PURCAHSE A USED BOOK BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT HAVE
ACCESS TO LAUNCHPAD. We will discuss this further on the first day of
class.
• Additional readings (posted on Blackboard)
• 4 red Parscore scantrons
• Pens/pencils/paper for note-taking
• Printouts of lecture notes (posted on Blackboard)

CLASSROOM POLICIES:
• Attendance: We will be doing activities almost every class session and they will
be worth points, so attendance is crucial.
• Respect: While in class, please show respect not only to the instructor but also
to the other students—no phone calls, texting, instant messaging, or ipods. If you
are on your computer in class, please no surfing or chatting as this is distracting
to other students around you. Also, please be sensitive to the opinions of others
by refraining from side conversations, interruptions, sleeping, etc. You will be
asked to leave this classroom if you fail to show such respect.
• Exams: No late exams will be given without documentation (e.g., doctor’s
note). If you know that you will miss an exam, please make arrangements with
the instructor at least 1 week prior to the exam. If you miss an exam without
making prior arrangements, you will need appropriate documentation to take the
exam. Make-up exams will be scheduled on a case-by-case basis.
• Assignments: Most assignments will be uploaded to turnitin.com. It is
expected that you will turn-in assignments on time. It is your responsibility
to be sure that you have checked due dates for all assignments and upload
them by the deadline. All late assignments will have a maximum point
value of half credit (without documentation), whether they are one hour late or
Psychology 230, Spring 2020
 one week late. All late assignments must be turned in by the last day of class
(Thursday 5/7 by 11:00 am) to receive any points.
• Grade challenges: Upon receiving graded assignments, you have 1 week to
check your grade with the instructor. This includes the grade for the final exam
and your final grade for the class. After one week, grade challenges will not be
reviewed.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Reading of textbook
• You will be required to read the chapters of the text and any assigned articles.

Reading of articles
• You will be required to read 4 articles (one for each section of the class) and turn in a
short written response on turnitin.com. I will let you know in class and as an
announcement on Blackboard/email when the article is posted on Blackboard and
when the response is due.

Exams
• There will be four exams. The fourth exam will be given on the last day of class and
will be the same format as the other exams (non-cumulative). Exams will include
multiple choice and true-false questions. Each student will need to bring a red
Parscore scantron on the day of the test as well as a number 2 pencil. Latecomers
will not be allowed to take the test.
• Late exam policy. It is your responsibility to take the exam on the date scheduled.
Students must provide documentation for missing an exam and/or talk to the
professor about the situation. If a make-up exam is needed, it will be scheduled AT
THE PROFESSOR’S convenience, and it is the student’s responsibility to attend the
make-up test session. Exams taken within 1 week after the originally scheduled date
of the test will have an automatic 10% deduction, exams taken 2 week – 4 weeks
after the originally scheduled date of the test will have an automatic 30% deduction.
No exams will be scheduled 4 weeks after the originally scheduled date of the test
and students will receive a 0 for any exam no taken.

In-class activities
• There will be in-class activities that we will complete throughout the semester which
will serve to exemplify the concepts that we are discussing. You must be in class on
the day of the activity to receive credit for it.

Course Grades
Exams - 76%
Online Homework Assignments (LearningCurve) – 8%
Article readings and responses – 8%
In-class activities – 8%

• Your weighted average percentage across assignments will be used to

determine your letter grade.

Psychology 230, Spring 2020

 • Your total grade on Blackboard does not weigh your grades, so your total points
on Blackboard does not accurately represent your percent in this class

Grading Scale:
Students will receive a grade based on their weighted average in the class.

Grade Rubric

A 92-above C 72-77
A- 90-91 C- 70-71
B+ 88-89 D+ 68-69
B 82-87 D 62-67
B- 80-81 D- 60-61
C+ 78-79 F 59-below

Psychology 230, Spring 2020

UNIVERSITY POLICIES
• Accommodations: If you are a student with a disability and are in need of
accommodations for this class, please contact Student Ability Success Center at
(619) 594-6473 as soon as possible. Please know accommodations are not
retroactive, and I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I
have received an accommodation letter from Student Ability Success Center.
• Student Concerns, Problems, and Complaints: If at any time there are issues
with the conduct of this course, including lectures, exams, and quizzes, please
see me immediately. We will work together to address your concerns. If this
does not satisfy your concerns, you must follow the appropriate procedures for
registering a complaint
(http://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/ombudsman/grievance-
procedures.aspx). Speak first to me. If you are still not satisfied, contact the
Psychology Department Chair, Dr. Paul Gilbert (pgilbert@sdsu.edu). If you are
still not satisfied, contact the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in the College of
Sciences (Dr. Estralita Martin, esmartin@mail.sdsu.edu). If your concerns
remain unresolved, you may contact the University Ombudsman. Failure to
follow University procedures in registering complaints may be considered a
violation of the Student Conduct
Code (http://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/srr/conduct.aspx).
• Student Privacy and Intellectual Property: The Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) mandates the protection of student information, including
contact information, grades, and graded assignments. I will use Blackboard to
communicate with you, and I will not post grades or leave graded assignments in
public places. Students will be notified at the time of an assignment if copies of
student work will be retained beyond the end of the semester or used as
examples for future students or the wider public. Students maintain intellectual
property rights to work products they create as part of this course unless they are
formally notified otherwise.
• Religious observances: According to the University Policy File, students should
notify the instructors of affected courses of planned absences for religious
observances by the end of the second week of classes.
• Academic Honesty: The University adheres to a strict policy prohibiting
cheating and plagiarism. Examples of academic dishonesty include but are not
limited to:
o copying, in part or in whole, from another's test or other examination;
o obtaining copies of a test, an examination, or other course material
without the permission of the instructor;
o collaborating with another or others in work to be presented without the
permission of the instructor;
o falsifying records, laboratory work, or other course data;
o submitting work previously presented in another course, if contrary to the
rules of the course;
o altering or interfering with grading procedures;
o assisting another student in any of the above;

Psychology 230, Spring 2020

 o using sources verbatim or paraphrasing without giving proper attribution
(this can include phrases, sentences, paragraphs and/or pages of work);
o copying and pasting work from an online or offline source directly and
calling it your own;
o using information you find from an online or offline source without giving
the author credit;
o replacing words or phrases from another source and inserting your own
words or phrases.
 The California State University system requires instructors to report
all instances of academic misconduct to the Center for Student
Rights and Responsibilities. Academic dishonesty will result in
disciplinary review by the University and may lead to probation,
suspension, or expulsion. Instructors may also, at their discretion,
penalize student grades on any assignment or assessment
discovered to have been produced in an academically dishonest
manner.
• Resources for students: A complete list of all academic support services--
including the Writing Center and Math Learning Center--is available on the
Student Affairs’ Academic Success website. Counseling and Psychological
Services (619-594-5220) offers confidential counseling services by licensed
therapists; you can Live Chat with a counselor at
http://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/cps/therapist-consultation.aspx between
4:00pm and 10:00pm, or call San Diego Access and Crisis 24-hour Hotline at
(888) 724-7240.
• Classroom Conduct Standards: SDSU students are expected to abide by the
terms of the Student Conduct Code in classrooms and other instructional
settings. Prohibited conduct includes:
o Willful, material and substantial disruption or obstruction of a University-
related activity, or any on-campus activity.
o Participating in an activity that substantially and materially disrupts the normal
operations of the University, or infringes on the rights of members of the
University community.
o Unauthorized recording, dissemination, or publication (including on websites
or social media) of lectures or other course materials.
o Conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person within
or related to the University community, including
1) physical abuse, threats, intimidation, or harassment.
2) sexual misconduct.
o Violation of these standards will result in referral to appropriate campus
authorities.
• Medical-related absences: Students are instructed to contact their
professor/instructor/coach in the event they need to miss class, etc. due to an
illness, injury or emergency. All decisions about the impact of an absence, as
well as any arrangements for making up work, rest with the instructors. Student
Health Services (SHS) does not provide medical excuses for short-term
absences due to illness or injury. When a medical-related absence persists

Psychology 230, Spring 2020

 beyond five days, SHS will work with students to provide appropriate
documentation. When a student is hospitalized or has a serious, ongoing illness
or injury, SHS will, at the student's request and with the student’s consent,
communicate with the student’s instructors via the Vice President for Student
Affairs and may communicate with the student’s Assistant Dean and/or the
Student Ability Success Center.
• SDSU Economic Crisis Response Team: If you or a friend are experiencing
food or housing insecurity, or any unforeseen financial crisis, visit sdsu.edu/ecrt,
email ecrt@sdsu.edu, or walk-in to Well-being & Health Promotion on the 3rd
floor of Calpulli Center.

Psychology 230, Spring 2020

 SCHEDULE
(subject to change – all changes will be announced in class and/or posted as an
announcement on Blackboard)

Date Topic Reading Homework

Assignment Due
Week 1
Wednesday • Introduction to the course -Syllabus
1/22

Friday • Online class:

1/24 • See 1/24 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 2
Monday • The People and the Field: Chapter 1, p. 2-11
1/27 Who We are and What We
Study

Wednesday • Theories: Lenses for Looking Chapter 1, p. 12-

1/29 at the Lifespan 20
Friday • Online class:
1/31 See 1/31 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 3
Monday • Theories: Lenses for Looking Chapter 1, p. 20- Launchpad
2/3 at the Lifespan 33 Chapter 1
• Research Methods: The Tools DUE 11:59
of the Trade PM

Wednesday • Selected parts from Prenatal Chapter 2

2/5 Development, Pregnancy, and
Birth
Friday • Online class:
2/7 • See 2/7 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 4
Monday • Selected parts from Prenatal Chapter 2 Launchpad
2/10 Development, Pregnancy, and Chapter 2
Birth OPTIONAL
not for credit
Wednesday Infancy
2/12 • Basic Newborn States Chapter 3, p. 73-
• Sensory and Motor 92
Development

Psychology 230, Spring 2020

 Friday • Online class:
2/14 • See 2/14 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 5
Monday
2/17 No Class

Wednesday Infancy Chapter 3, p. 93- Launchpad

2/19 • Cognition 105 Chapter 3
• Language: The Endpoint of DUE 11:59
Infancy PM

Friday Midterm #1 – Chapters 1, Chapter

2/21 2 (selected sections), Chapter 3
Week 6 Infancy: Socioemotional Chapter 4, p. 107-
Monday Development 117
2/24 • Attachment
• Settings for Development
Wednesday Infancy: Socioemotional Chapter 4, p. 118- Launchpad
2/26 Development 131 Chapter 4
• Toddlerhood: Age of DUE 11:59
Autonomy and Shame and PM
Doubt

Friday • Online class:

2/28 • See 2/28 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 7 Childhood: Physical and Cognitive Chapter 5, p. 135-
Monday Development 156
3/2 • Setting the Context
• Physical Development
Cognitive Development
Wednesday Childhood: Physical and Cognitive Chapter 5, p. 142- Launchpad
3/4 Development 167 Chapter 5
• Cognitive Development DUE 11:59
(continued) PM
• Language
• Specific Cognitive Skills
Friday • Online class:
3/6 • See 3/6 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 8 Childhood: Socioemotional
Monday Development Chapter 6 Launchpad
3/9 • Setting the Challenge: Chapter 6
Emotion Regulation

Psychology 230, Spring 2020

 • Personality (and the Emerging DUE 11:59
Self) PM
• Relationships

Wednesday Finish any remaining lecture and

3/11 movie
Friday Midterm #2 – Chapters 4, 5, and 6
3/13
Week 9 Childhood: Settings for Chapter 7, p. 199-
Monday Development: Home and School 212
3/16 • Setting the Context
• Home

Wednesday Childhood: Settings for Chapter 7, p. 199-

3/18 Development: Home and School 212
• Setting the Context
• Home

Friday • Online class:

3/20 • See 3/24 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 10 Childhood: Settings for Chapter 7, p. 212- Launchpad
Monday Development: Home and School 227 Chapter 7
3/23 • School DUE 11:59
• Guest Lecture –attendance PM
required
Wednesday • Movie
3/25
Friday • Online class:
3/27 • See 3/27 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 11
Monday SPRING BREAK – No class 
3/30
Wednesday SPRING BREAK – No class 
4/1
Friday SPRING BREAK – No class 
4/3
Week 12 Adolescence: Physical Development Launchpad
Monday • Puberty Chapter 8 Chapter 8
4/6 • Body Image Issues DUE 11:59
• Sexuality PM
Wednesday Adolescence: Cognitive and Social Chapter 9, p. 259-
4/8 Development 278
• Setting the Context

Psychology 230, Spring 2020

 • The Mysterious Teenage
Mind

Friday • Online class:

4/10 • See 4/10 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 13 Adolescence: Cognitive and Social Chapter 9, p. 279- Launchpad
Monday Development 289 Chapter 9
4/13 • Teenage Relationships DUE 11:59
PM

Wednesday Finish any remaining lecture and

4/15 movie
Friday Midterm #3 – Chapters 7, 8 and 9
4/15
Week 14
Monday Movie/Adolescent Identity Activity
4/20
Wednesday Movie/Adolescent Identity Activity
4/22
Friday • Online class:
4/24 • See 4/24 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 15 Constructing an Adult Life Chapter 10 Chapter 10
Monday • Emerging into Adulthood DUE 11:59
4/27 • Constructing an Identity PM
• Finding a Career
Wednesday Constructing an Adult Life Chapter 11 Chapter 11
4/29 • Marriage DUE 11:59
• Work PM
Friday • Online class:
5/1 • See 5/1 folder on Blackboard
for assignment details
Week 16 Constructing an Adult Life Chapter 11 Chapter 11
Monday • Marriage DUE 11:59
5/4 • Work PM
Wednesday Midterm #4 – Movie/Adolescent
5/6 Identity Activity, Chapter 10 and
11

Accessing Online Launchpad Homework

Psychology 230, Spring 2020

 • Follow these steps to get started. If you need additional guidance, consult the support
site, especially the system requirements which list recommended browsers.
• Go to http://www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpad/belsky4e/7237541
• Bookmark the page to make it easy to return to (although note the the URL will look
different due to security measures).
• Enroll in this course using one of the following options:
• If you have an access code, select "I have a student access code", enter the code
exactly as it appears on the card, and click Submit.
• If you don't have an access code, either purchase a text package that includes one OR
click "I want to purchase access" and follow the instructions.
• If you need to start working but can't purchase right away, select "I want temporary
access" and follow the instructions. Please note: Your grades are linked to your
Launchpad account username (email address). If you use temporary access, make sure
you purchase or register your code using the same email address for your paid access.

If you have problems registering, purchasing, or logging in, please contact Customer Support.

You can reach a representative 7 days a week:

• through the online form

• by chat
• by phone at (800) 936-6899

Psychology 230, Spring 2020