Unit 1: Genetics and Prenatal Influences on Development
The Pregnant Avatar: Seeing Oneself in C-Sections, Surrogates, and Sonograms, Theadora Walsh, Afterimage, 2017Picture a pregnant Minion or a pregnant Cinderella - now you can see them on your computer! Read about an online pregnancy game. Read about how pregnant woman are now being represented through avatars. This online pregnancy and childbirth, however, is devoid of any human emotion, physical pain or hormonal impact. Learn about the similarities between this game and a clinic for surrogacy in Gujarat, India where "bodies" are chosen to grow children for infertile couples.
Two Dads and a Little Lady: Surrogacy Brings Tennessee Couple the Love of Their Lives, Beverly Prince-Sayward, Gay Parent Magazine, 2016Read about a homosexual couple's search for a surrogate mother. Follow the story of Dell and Robert through disappointment and prejudice. Meet their daughter, Heiress, and read their parenting advice as they successfully navigate family life with their seven-year-old daughter.
Shattering the Silence, Audrey Goodson Kingo, Working Mother, 2018Are all women treated equally during childbirth? Learn about the impact that childbirth can have on the psyche. Around one in every seven women develops a mood or anxiety disorder during pregnancy or childbirth. Learn about psychosis, obsessive compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn about why only 30 percent of women who need therapy are actually receiving it. Read about how rates for African American women are twice as high for some disorders.
The New Abortion Underground, Nina Liss-Schultz, Mother Jones, 2018Imagine if you lived in Argentina where abortions have again been banned by law in 2018... Here in the United States within the past seven years, more than 160 abortion clinics have closed. Read about how women are protecting their reproductive rights. Meet Renata and learn how she has trained in "self-induced abortions" to combat the current culture. Read about the legislation that bans this practice in many states.
Unit 2: Development during Infancy and Early Childhood
Vaccinations: Who Calls the Shots? Liza Greve, The New American, 2016The vaccination industry is a $24,000,000 business but does it really prevent disease, and should vaccinations be mandated by our government? The possibility of infection after vaccination is discussed in light of the measles outbreak at Disneyland in 2015.
Obesity Prevention in Children, Alvin N. Eden, Pediatrics for Parents, 2017Twenty-five percent of kindergarten children are overweight or obese according to a longitudinal study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Read about these children in early childhood then follow them as they age. Do they lose their "puppy fat" or do they tend to remain overweight? Learn about the consequences of obesity from a medical and psychological perspective. Read as the blame shifts from sugar to parents to technology.
Prevent Drowning! Timothy F. Mott, Pediatrics for Parents, 2017Drowning is the leading cause of death among children under four years of age. Think about how to keep an infant, toddler or young child safe during bath time or around a swimming pool. Consider the distractions that parents face and the potential impact of those distractions around water.
The Psychological Effects of Being Separated From Your Child, Cari Romm, The Cut, 2018What happens to parents and children when they are unexpectedly separated from each other? Read about migrant children who have been forcibly removed from their parents. Learn about the psychological ordeal that this creates in terms of trauma and grief.
ASU Officials Discuss Harmful Effects on Children Detained At the US-Mexico Border, Jessica Myers, UWIRE Text, 2018It is only under extreme circumstances that infants and toddlers are removed from their parents. These cases typically involve abuse or neglect. As children are being separated from their parents at the US-Mexico border crossings, learn about the psychological effect that it can create - both immediate and lifelong.
Unit 3: Development during Childhood: Cognition and Schooling
New Faces of Blended Learning, Michael B. Horn and Julia Freeland Fisher, Educational Leadership, 2017Take a closer look inside today's classroom where technology is changing the face of education. Look at the difference that blended learning has created from the pace of the classroom to the successful completion of long and short-term goals. Read about how technology is enhancing the learning process and giving students ownership of their educational goals.
Breaking the Silence, Troy Flint, Education Digest, 2017"POPS" and "Project WHAT" are support groups for children with incarcerated family members. Learn about the impetus to set up the POPS program - a letter written by a young incarcerated student to his former classmates. Read about the three million children in the United States who carry the stigma, shame and burden of having an incarcerated parent or family member. Discover the social, emotional and psychological effect that this can have on a child.
Immigrant Influxes Put U.S. Schools to the Test, Corey Mitchell, Education Week, 2016An inside look into some of the issues associated with the integration of immigrant children into the American school system from a cognitive, social and emotional perspective.
For Kids, Living Room Can Be a Classroom, Rebecca Alwine, Army Magazine, 2016Why would parents choose to homeschool their child? For some, the perceived social isolation and the intense time spent with parents seem like serious issues associated with homeschooling. For others, such as military families, it offers a chance to spend precious time together and avoids the inconvenience of starting at a new school every time the family shifts their location. Meet the Denman family and experience education from their perspective.
Spotting the Danger Signs in Schools, Tim Goral, District Administration, 2016There have been 262 school and college shootings since 1999 when Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris shot their classmates in Littleton, Colorado. Read about the universal warning signs and behaviors. Learn about work by forensic psychologists to prevent more attacks. Discover "shooter leakage" and learn about the role that social media plays. Read about how Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter are involved and the technology that is being designed to prevent these despicable acts in the future.
Unit 4: Development during Childhood: Family and Culture
Tough Fluidity: Complex Considerations for Trans Youth, Deborah June Goemans, The Humanist, 2017What happens to children when there is a disconnect between their assigned gender and the gender that they identify with? Follow the story of Pat, a transgender child, who has identified as a girl since the age of three years old. Learn about Mike and his agonizing choices. Read about gender dysphoria, puberty blockers and the development of a gender-fluid identity. Think, as you read, about the cisgender and transgender population and the current laws in the United States.
Responding to Defiance in the Moment, Education Digest, 2017Why do some children simply refuse to co-operate? Explore eight underlying reasons for non-compliance among children. Read about techniques to de-escalate defiant situations and promote co-operation. Learn about the importance of reflection and evaluation. Read about these while considering the bigger picture of discipline and family harmony.
When to Worry about Your Child's Aggression, Jordana Mansbacher, Pediatrics for Parents, 2015Aggression is a natural part of our psyche, but it is a parent's responsibility to interpret their child's overt behaviors and decide when intervention is necessary.
Displacement Crisis Grows as Boko Haram Increases Exploitation of Girls, Fredrick Nzwili, Christian Century, 2016Read about the deplorable kidnappings and use of children by the terrorist group Boko Haram which operates in Nigeria and beyond. Young girls are forced to return home pregnant or carry out suicide missions for their captors.
The Opioid Crisis, Vitisia Paynich, Parks and Recreation, 2018Children can be adversely affected by the adult opioid crisis - the cessation of parental rights, the death of a parent, the witnessing of abuse and neglect etc. Read about children who entered the foster care system as a direct result of the opioid crisis in the United States.
Concerning Bullies, Daniel Thomas Moran, The Humanist, 2018Morgan discusses the pervasive culture of bullying that children are exposed to in the home and beyond. Learn about the impact that parental bullying can have on the psychological development of a child. Read about bullies such as Jim, Tom and Rich. Think about how parenta l discussions on child rearing practices can influence how a child develops resilience and responds to a bully.
In Case of Deportation . . . DACA-protected Parents Make Plans for Their Kids, Alexandra Tempus, Progressive, 2018Read about 3,063 DACA beneficiaries who were survey in a recent study. Follow Laura's story. She is just one of the millions of DACA recipients. She is not an American citizen, but she is the mother of one. Learn about her life as an undocumented immigrant mother. Read about the fear she experiences, on a daily basis, of being separated from her child. Read about the complexities that she faces as she tries to set up a "power of attorney" in lieu of legal guardianship for her child.
Unit 5: Development during Adolescence
Dangers of E-cigarettes and Liquid Nicotine among Children, Laura Friedenberg and Gary A. Smith, Pediatrics for Parents, 2017What are the long-term effects of e-cigarettes? Is second-hand vapor as dangerous as second-hand smoke? A 1,500 percent increase in calls to poison control concerning e-cigarette related issues suggests that they might pose a problem. Read about a recent study on e-cigarettes and their effect on children.
Secrets of Our Modern Youth, Brigitte Piniewski, Pediatrics for Parents, 2016Hormonal chaos can be unleashed when overweight or obese children enter puberty. Learn about the social and emotional implications. Suggestions for prevention are also discussed.
Substance Abuse Concerns: Heroin and Prescription Drug Use on the Rise among Teens, Curriculum Review, 2016In light of the staggering increase in heroin and prescription drug use, the risk factors, signs and symptoms of addiction are highlighted. Health problems and behavioral changes are also discussed.
High Anxiety: Colleges Are Seeing an Increase in the Number of Students with Diagnosable Mental Illness, Anxiety, and Depression, Sandra Long Weaver, Convergence, 2016A review of mental health records on college campuses suggests that one in four college students has a diagnosable illness, one in six students have been diagnosed or treated for anxiety in the past year and that 18 percent of college students have experienced suicidal ideation. Stressors and symptoms are discussed.
Pathways to Adulthood, Jeremy Knoll, Education Digest, 2016Are high school seniors lost? Are they clinging on to the traditional "senior year" activities to compensate for their fear of the future? Knoll suggests that the senior year of high school has become a "holding pattern" for many high schoolers replete with lost opportunities for personal growth creating an environment of "academic atrophy." Read about his ambitious challenges that he sets for his senior class as he implores them to introspect, reflect and discuss major issues about themselves and the world around them.
#NODARETOOSTUPID, Jessica Firger, Newsweek, 2016What prompts a teen to participate in viral crazes such as setting themselves on fire? What drives them to attempt dangerous feats such as #EraserChallenge or #CinnamonChallenge? What, or whom, should we blame when adolescents act in crazy ways? Is it the internet's fault? Can we blame their hormones, specifically dopamine? Dr. Jay Giedd attempts to explain why the developing adolescent brain is so susceptible to internet dares and challenges.
Pharming: Pill Parties Can Be Deadly for Teens, Susan Solecki and Renee Turchi, Contemporary Pediatrics, 2014Ever heard of "skittling" or "skittle parties"? How about "robotripping"? In a nation where 50 percent of Americans have at least one prescription medication, is it any wonder that it has led to wide scale abuse? Read about "pill parties" where party-goers bring any type of medication to a party and throw it into a communal bowl. Each person then swallows a handful of the mixture leading to untold consequences as the pills are often washed down with alcohol. How can we, as a nation, do better to prevent such blatant abuse of prescription medication?
Parenting Against the Internet, Genevieve Field, Real Simple, 2016Adolescents in the USA are using social media for as much as nine hours per day. Read about Ethan's secret internet addiction and his social media troubles. Learn about children's exposure to pornography and the impact that this can have on their subsequent social development. Learn about "internet gaming disorder" and the problems associated with the dopamine and adrenalin rush that the internet can trigger. Read about the behavioral phenomenon known as "problematic internet use."
Adolescent Social Media Addiction (revisited), Mark D. Griffiths and Daria J. Kuss, Education & Health, 2017What are the psychological implications for computer and technology usage? Read about the potential for intrapsychic conflict, interpersonal issues and relationship problems. Read how adolescents and children respond differently than adults in this viral world. Learn about "FOMO" - fear of missing out and its relationship to addiction. Discover how some people react when they are separated from their cell phone - "NOMOphobia" or no mobile phone phobia. Read the discussion that suggests that social media systems may be creating mood modifications that create withdrawal symptoms when they are removed.
Unit 6: Development during Early Adulthood
Meeting the Needs of Student Parents, Rabiah Gul and Charles J. Russo, School Business Affairs, 2016The rate of teen births has declined over the past 20 years. The question of educational goals for pregnant and parenting teens, however, still remains. Join the discussion on whether these teens should be educated separately or differently from their peers. Learn about the laws that protect pregnant and parenting teens. Read about the financial costs involved in implementing these educational requirements.
Stanford Sexual-Assault Case Reveals the Chasm that Privilege Creates, Naeemah Clark, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2016Read about the sentence that Brock Turner received from the court for raping a woman who was passed out at a college party. Decide for yourself what his Ivy League school and social status had to do with his sentence. Read about his social class, ethnicity and sportsmanship then decide what role they played in the outcome of his court case. Think about the father of this sexual predator and his reaction to his son's behavior. Finally, decide for yourself how this case has changed our perceptions.
To Hell and Back, Julie Irwin Zimmerman, Cincinnati Magazine, 2016Learn what addiction feels like from Tracy. Follow her life from a shy, depressed high school student to a homeless heroin addict. Read about how she turned her life around and now advocates for others.
Introducing the Topic of Self-harm in Schools: Developing an Educational and Preventative Support Intervention, Tina Rae, Education & Health, 2016Join our conversation on self-harm. Read about primary and secondary risk factors such as a sense of hopelessness or low self-esteem. We will define self-harm, discuss examples such as poisoning and mutilation. We will look at school-based awareness programs and intervention techniques.
The Real Science Behind Concussions, Michelle Taylor, Laboratory Equipment, 2016Look at brain scans of football players to see CTE or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy - brain damage caused by repeated blows to the head. Read how memory, emotions and behavior are impacted by repeated blows to the head during sports such as football, ice hockey, wrestling, boxing and cheerleading. Recall the movie "Concussion" that was based on Dr. Omalu's work on the subject in 2015.
Our Miserable 21st Century, Nicholas Eberstadt, Commentary, 2017It is important to discuss the social, emotional, cognitive and psychological development in relation to the world around us. Eberstadt paints a very gloomy picture of 21st Century America. It is nonetheless, the backdrop that development will occur within. Think about the effect that this will have on the development of the psyche as you read about fewer jobs, less social mobility and lower wages. Add to this the opioid epidemic of our times and the future certainly looks bleak.
Managing Money with Your Partner When You Earn More, Farnoosh Torabi, Intuit Mint Life, 2018Let's talk about the psychology of money! Read about the relationship between self-worth and net-worth! How does earning potential affect men and women? How does it impact a relationship? Learn how to develop financial autonomy within a relationship.
After #MeToo, Jane Fonda, et al., The Nation, 2018White women are pioneering the fight for sexual equality and freedom from harassment in the workplace thanks to the #metoo movement. However, Anita Hill, an African American woman, fought her very public battle back in 1991. Read five different women's perspectives on this movement as it gains momentum. Is it a "witch hunt" or is it a legitimate fight against discrimination and harassment in the workplace? Join this discussion that focuses on specific job s such as the food service industry. Read about how women please their customers "at all costs" to keep their jobs and secure their tips. Learn about the shift in behaviors when power and salaries are equal in the workplace.
Taking the Measure of #MeToo, Gary Gutting and Sarah Ruden, Commonweal, 2018How do you feel about the #MeToo movement? How does it impact your life? How does it affect the men in your life - the fathers, sons, husbands and brothers that you interact with. Read an alternative perspective on the #MeToo movement that looks at the impact on men and the history of women's sexual prowess from the church and religion to feminism.
Jihad In the Age of Twitter, Warren Richey, Moment Magazine, 2015How are terrorists using the Internet and social media to recruit new members? What do we really know about Isis and their use of social media to engage our children's minds? Read about how they attract adolescents to their cause and how they manipulate their thinking. Read about "Jihadi girl power" and the "slow motion kidnapping" of our children.
Gotta Get Out of This Place, Jeff Abbott, Progressive, 2018Read about the violence in Honduras and the Hernandez administration. Learn about U.S. policies and their impact on family life, gangs such as MS 13, human trafficking and daily violence.
They Know Where You Live, Simon Parkin, New Statesman, 2016What is "swatting"? Read about the victims of this horrible prank. Meet Justine Roberts and read about her horrifying experience. Learn about "doxxing" and the havoc that it can also reek on people's lives. Think, as you read, about how we could prevent these attacks from happening in the future.
Unit 7: Development during Adulthood
The Rise of Iran's Feminist Resistance, Catherine Marshall, Eureka Street, 2018Read about Vida Movahedi's act of defiance. Fueled by social media and satellite TV, life is changing for Iranian women. Read about the changes in Iran since it became a theocracy in 1979. Despite their strict moral code, woman are fighting back against gender prejudice.
A Growing Interest in Medical Marijuana, Keith Loria, PT in Motion, 2018Medical marijuana is becoming a widely accepted pain management tool for diseases such as MS, Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy and arthritis. In 2016, sales from medical marijuana soared to over $6.7 billion. The potential is over $36 billion.
Mastering Her Game, Alex Eugene, Curve, 2018How does transitioning affect life in professional sports? Meet Mianne who identifies as an "XY woman." She has challenged the status quo in the professional golfing world.
Making Room at the Top, Barbara Frankel, Working Mother, 2018According to Working Mother, in 2018, 23 percent of the workforce are multicultural women and 9 percent are in senior management. Read about a focus on changing the biased recruitment methods may help to improve these numbers. Learn about suggestions include hiding surnames as more Hispanic, Asian and African American names are rejected.
Unit 8 Development during Late Adulthood
PICK Your PATH to Retirement, Jane Bennett Clark, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, 2015Retirement has been redefined in the twenty-first century as a result of increased life expectancy, more years in the work force, better health and higher levels of education.
Combat Age-Related Brain Atrophy, Barry Volk, Life Extension Magazine, 2015The age-related causes of brain shrinkage are outlined along with suggestions to combat brain loss including the consumption of polyphenols (found in pomegranates) and resveratrol (found in red grapes). Increased intake of B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids also helps to combat brain shrinkage.
Unique Magnesium Compound Reverses Brain Aging, Jamie Rivington, Life Extension Magazine, 2016Learn about how the brain can become more youthful with the addition of more magnesium to the diet in the form of a unique compound developed by MIT scientists. Read how magnesium can improve brain plasticity, impacting cognition, memory and leaning. The potential impact of this research on Alzheimer's disease and PTSD is discussed.
Could Cooking a Different Dinner Save You from Alzheimer's? Sarah Klein and Catherine Price, Prevention, 2016Is it possible that the food that we each could contribute to Alzheimer's disease? Is it also possible to prevent the disease by eating differently? Consider how insulin levels contribute to this disease. Think about the effects of a high carbohydrate diet or the Mediterranean diet.
No Country for Old People, David Bacon, Dollars & Sense, 2016Millions of our elderly citizens, according to David Bacon, are living undignified lives in their retirement. He describes their circumstances as "vulnerable and precarious," even suggesting that their human rights are being violated. He also reports on the blight of immigrants, legal and undocumented, as they try to survive in retirement.
Protecting Our Elders: Potential Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect, Shayla Reed, Nebraska Lawyer Magazine, 2018When it comes time to take care of your aging parents, how will you make the right choices? If they can no longer live alone, will they live with you or will you find a nursing home for them? How will you know which one to pick? What is the minimal standard of care in a nursing home? Learn to identify early warning signs of abuse or neglect...
A 'New Friend' May Signal a Big Problem, Eleanor Laise, Kiplinger's Retirement Report, 2018Seniors lose approximately $6.7 billion per year to financial abuse. As many as 80 percent of financial abuse cases are never reported possibly due to coercion, manipulation or threats of retribution. Learn how this could change.
