Becoming Attached

Attachment

Separation

Loss

Love at Goon Park

The Developing Mind

Developmental Psychology
David R. Cross, Ph.D.

Overview

Developmental Psychology (PSYC 40433) introduces students to the discipline of developmental psychology through historical re-enactment of pivotal events in the history of attachment theory. The course is divided into three parts, with each part corresponding to a particular 25-year phase in the development of attachment theory. During each part of the course students will have three assignments:

  • Exam over relevant portions of Robert Karen's Becoming Attached (Oxford, 1998).
  • Paper summarizing the position of the student's assigned character for that section of the course (approximately 2000 words).
  • Participation in the re-enactment culminating each section of the course (some combination of online and in-class discussion).

Each five-week section of the course will be sequenced more or less as follows:

  • First and Second Weeks: Class time will be instructor-organized, and devoted to in-class activities relevant to that part of the course; students will be assigned their characters from the lists below.
  • Third Week: Class time will be student-organized, and devoted to preparation for the exam and the paper; students will take the exam at the end of the third week.
  • Fourth Week: Class time will be student-organized, and will be devoted to preparation for the position paper; papers will be due at the end of the fourth week.
  • Fifth Week: Class time will devoted to the week-long conference, which culminates each section of the course; some papers may be read during class time, and class members (historical characters) will have an opportunity to participate in online discussion (eCollege).

Exams and papers are worth 40 points for each section of the course; participation in the online discussions is worth 20 for each part of the course. The total points for each section is 100, so there are 300 points total possible for the course. 270 points will be required for an A, 240 points for a B, 210 points for a C, and 180 points for a D. Developmental Psychology satisfies WEM core requirements. More information — and materials — are available on TCU's eCollege webpage (enrolled students will be able to access eCollege on the first day of classes).

Section One: Maternal Deprivation (1935–1960)

The first section of the course corresponds to the earliest attempts by scientists and clinicians to grapple with the effects of maternal deprivation, and to understand the nature of the parent-child relationship; relevant portions of Karen's Becoming Attached are the Introduction and Part I. The "cast of characters" for Section One is listed below:

Section Two: The Strange Situation (1960–1985)

The second part of the course is dominated by the development of the Strange Situation, which gave psychologists an important tool to study and understand the nature of the parent-child relationship; relevant portions of Karen's Becoming Attached are Parts II and III. The "cast of characters" for Section Two is listed below:

Section Three: Adult Attachment Interview (1985–2010)

The third part of the course is dominated by the development of the Adult Attachment Interview, which has given psychologists an important tool to study attachment in adult humans, including parents; relevant portions of Karen's Becoming Attached are Parts IV–VI. The "cast of characters" for Section Three is listed below:

Class Photos

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