Allison Buskirk-Cohen
Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Lifespan Development
Allison Buskirk-Cohen
Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Lifespan Development
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The Taking Sides Collection on McGraw-Hill Create® includes current controversial issues in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. This Collection contains a multitude of current and classic issues to enhance and customize your course. You can browse the entire Taking Sides Collection on Create or you can search by topic, author, or keywords. Each Taking Sides issue is thoughtfully framed with Learning Outcomes, an Issue Summary, an Introduction, and an "Exploring the Issue" section featuring Critical Thinking and Reflection, Is There…mehr
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The Taking Sides Collection on McGraw-Hill Create® includes current controversial issues in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. This Collection contains a multitude of current and classic issues to enhance and customize your course. You can browse the entire Taking Sides Collection on Create or you can search by topic, author, or keywords. Each Taking Sides issue is thoughtfully framed with Learning Outcomes, an Issue Summary, an Introduction, and an "Exploring the Issue" section featuring Critical Thinking and Reflection, Is There Common Ground?, Additional Resources, and Internet References. Go to the Taking Sides Collection on McGraw-Hill Create® at www.mcgrawhillcreate.com/takingsides and click on "Explore this Collection" to browse the entire Collection. Select individual Taking Sides issues to enhance your course, or access and select the entire Buskirk-Cohen: Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Lifespan Development, 6/e book here http://create.mheducation.com/createonline/index.html#qlink=search%2Ftext%3Disbn:1259883248 for an easy, pre-built teaching resource. Visit http://create.mheducation.com for more information on other McGraw-Hill titles and special collections.
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Produktdetails
- Produktdetails
- Verlag: McGraw Hill LLC
- Seitenzahl: 368
- Altersempfehlung: 18 bis 22 Jahre
- Erscheinungstermin: 22. März 2017
- Englisch
- Abmessung: 277mm x 218mm x 17mm
- Gewicht: 784g
- ISBN-13: 9781259883248
- ISBN-10: 1259883248
- Artikelnr.: 48066050
- Verlag: McGraw Hill LLC
- Seitenzahl: 368
- Altersempfehlung: 18 bis 22 Jahre
- Erscheinungstermin: 22. März 2017
- Englisch
- Abmessung: 277mm x 218mm x 17mm
- Gewicht: 784g
- ISBN-13: 9781259883248
- ISBN-10: 1259883248
- Artikelnr.: 48066050
Dr.Allison A. Buskirk-Cohen is the Chairof the Psychology Department at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, PA.She had a lead role in developing the curriculum for both the undergraduate andmasters programs in counseling psychology. She teaches courses both theundergraduate and graduate levels in a variety of formats (face-to-face,hybrid, and online modes). In her teaching, Dr. Buskirk-Cohen emphasizescritical thinking, problem solving, and experiential learning. She proudlyserves on many university committees. Dr. Buskirk-Cohens research focuses on howinterpersonal relationships influence academic success and well-being. She isinterested in how peer and family relationships influences adjustment,particularly during significant transitions. Dr. Buskirk-Cohen also studiesteaching and learning in higher education, focusing on the impact oflearner-centered educational practices. Her work has been published inpeer-reviewed journals and advanced textbooks, and presented at academicconferences around the world. Dr. Buskirk-Cohen holds a masters degree indevelopmental psychology with a concentration in developmental psychopathologyfrom Teachers College, Columbia University and a doctorate degree in humandevelopment with a specialization in developmental sciences from the Universityof Maryland.
Unit 1: General Issues in the Study of Lifespan Development
Issue: Does the Cultural Environment Influence Lifespan Development More
Than Our Genes? Yes: Rachael E. Jack et al., from "Facial Expressions of
Emotion Are Not Culturally Universal," Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences (2012) No: Beau Sievers et al., from "Music and Movement Share
a Dynamic Structure that Supports Universal Expressions of Emotion,"
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2013)
The long-standing question of whether nature or nurture has a bigger impact
on our development can be examined in terms of our emotions. Many believe
that emotions are biologically hardwired; however, the research from Rachel
Jack and colleagues questions that belief. These researchers compared
facial expressions of emotions of individuals from Western and Eastern
cultures, finding differences that highlight the influence of culture on
how we represent emotions. However, the work of Beau Sievers and colleagues
studies music in the United States and in an isolated tribal village in
Cambodia. They utilized a computer program to generate matching examples of
music and movement. They found that music and movement were interpreted
similarly both within and across cultures, suggesting a universal
expression of emotion.
Issue: Is Chinese Parenting Culturally Distinct? Yes: Amy Chua, from "Why
Chinese Mothers Are Superior," The Wall Street Journal (2011) No: Su Yeong
Kim, from "Defining Tiger Parenting in Chinese Americans," Human
Development (2013)
Amy Chau, the author of The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother discusses
strategies to achieve success in child-rearing, highlighting the techniques
of "Chinese" mothers. She argues that raising successful children is less
about bolstering their self-esteem and more about instilling disciplined
work habits and high standards, values that are important to academic and
life success. Su Yeong Kim, on the other hand, argues that tiger parenting
is not common among Chinese-American families. This paper reviews the
parenting literature on Asian American parenting along with Chua's
description of her own parenting. Kim also provides evidence that
Chinese-American adolescents benefit from supportive parenting, quite
different from the methods originally described by Chua.
Issue: Should Happiness Be Our Goal? Yes: Daniel Sgroi, from "Happiness and
Productivity: Understanding the Happy-productive Worker," Global
Perspectives Series: Paper (2015) No: Sharon Begley, from "Happiness:
Enough Already," Newsweek (2008)
Much of psychology's history has focused on dysfunction and misery.
However, in more recent years, psychologists have shifted their attention
to study wellness, and, more specifically, happiness. Daniel Sgroi utilizes
several small experiments to demonstrate happiness as an input to economic
processes of productivity. His paper argues that the main path from
happiness to productivity is through increased work effort. Reporter Sharon
Begley does not dispute the importance of happiness, but argues for a
moderate approach to positive psychology. In this article, Begley discusses
the extremist nature of much of the research and emphasizes the need to
move beyond the dichotomous thinking of misery versus happiness. Moreover,
she suggests that that there is an evolutionary need to experience negative
emotions.
Unit 2: Prenatal Development and Infancy
Issue: Are Midwives and Homebirths the Best Option? Yes: Jamie Santa Cruz,
from "Call the Midwife," The Atlantic (2015) No: Jonathan M. Snowden et
al., from "Planned Out-of-Hospital Birth and Birth Outcomes," The New
England Journal of Medicine (2015)
Jamie Santa Cruz documents a growing trend among American mothers to rely
on midwives, rather than physicians, for prenatal care, labor, and
delivery. She describes the roles of rising costs of labor and delivery,
rates of surgery and other medical interventions, and philosophical
differences in this trend. However, are midwife-attended births safe?
Jonathan Snowden and colleagues analyzed data of Oregon births that took
place during 2012 and 2013. They found that perinatal mortality was higher
with planned out-of-hospital birth than with planned in-hospital birth.
Their study highlights the complexities involved in assessing birth risks.
Issue: Is Breastfeeding Inevitably Best for Healthy Development? Yes: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, from The Surgeon General's Call to
Action to Support Breastfeeding, Office of the Surgeon General (2011) No:
Courtney Jung, from "Overselling Breastfeeding," The New York Times (2015)
Breastfeeding children is both a personal and societal issue. As part of a
broad mandate to advocate for public health, the U.S. Surgeon General cites
numerous benefits of breastfeeding as part of "call to action" oriented
toward increasing the practice among new mothers. However, Courtney Jung's
article provides a cautionary view of these benefits. She describes the
zealousness with which Americans pursue breastfeeding, possibly to the
detriment of the mother's health and with limited benefits for the child.
Jung also describes the economic motivation for encouraging breastfeeding.
She does not discourage it, but, rather invites readers to examine
parenting practices with a critical lens.
Issue: Is Co-sleeping Safe for Baby? Yes: Wendy Middlemiss, from "Bringing
the Parent Back into Decisions about Nighttime Care," Clinical Lactation
(2013) No: Adrienne LaFrance, from "About that Scary Swaddling Study," The
Atlantic (2016)
Educational psychologist Wendy Middlemiss advocates that health-care
providers discuss options of nighttime care with parents, rather than
providing specific advice that may conflict with parents' beliefs and
preferences. Furthermore, she discusses ways for health-care providers
address infant safety and health that best match each family. However, all
choices may not be equal, argues Adrienne LaFrance. Her article describes a
new meta-analysis that links swaddling with a higher risk of SIDS.
Importantly, LaFrance emphasizes the importance of how research is
interpreting and examines some of the limitations to the meta-analysis. Her
work emphasizes the need for caregivers to engage in thoughtful
decision-making regarding nighttime care.
Unit 3: Early Childhood
Issue: Do Innate Gender Differences Influence How Children Learn? Yes:
Kelley King, Michael Gurian, and Kathy Stevens, from "Gender-Friendly
Schools," Educational Leadership (2010) No: Lise Eliot, from "The Myth of
Pink and Blue Brains," Educational Leadership (2010)
Kelley King, Michael Gurian, and Kathy Stevens, all affiliated with an
institute that advocates for accommodating gender differences in learning,
identify developmental differences between boys and girls that are deep
enough to merit distinct educational practices. Lise Eliot explains how
small gender differences in infancy become magnified through parental
interactions with their children. She argues that teachers, as well, need
to be aware of how they treat boys and girls so they do not exacerbate
gender stereotypes.
Issue: Is Preschool Education Worthwhile? Yes: Hirokazu Yoshikawa, et al.,
from Investing in Our Future: The Evidence Base on Preschool Education,
Society for Research in Child Development and Foundation for Child
Development (2013) No: David J. Armor and Sonia Sousa, from "The Dubious
Promise of Universal Preschool," National Affairs (2014)
Hirokazu Yoshikawa led a team of researchers from the Foundation for Child
Development in an examination of the current research on early childhood
education. They find that scientific research supports the academic,
social, emotional, and economic benefits of preschool. Professors David
Armor and Sonia Sousa, in contrast, point to disappointing results from the
existing federal preschool program Head Start. They do not believe research
overwhelmingly supports the benefits of preschool.
Unit 4: Middle Childhood
Issue: Are Violent Video Games Necessarily Bad for Children? Yes: Craig A.
Anderson, from "Violent Video Games and Other Media Violence (Parts 1 &
2)," Pediatrics for Parents (2010) No: Cheryl K. Olsen, Lawrence Kutner,
and Eugene Beresin, from "Children and Video Games: How Much Do We Know?"
Psychiatric Times (2007)
Psychologist and researcher Craig A. Anderson finds that violent video game
play consistently associates with aggression and problematic behavior,
arguing that there is no good reason for making them available to children.
Cheryl K. Olsen, Lawrence Kutner, and Eugene Beresin have all been
affiliated with a Harvard Medical School center devoted to studying mental
health and the media. In their work they recognize the potential risks of
violent video games, but find that most children play video games in ways
that pose little risk and offer some potential benefit.
Issue: Should We Try to "Cure" Autism? Yes: Ruth Padawer, from "The Kids
Who Beat Autism," The New York Times (2014) No: Aaron Rothstein, from
"Mental Disorder or Neurodiversity?" The New Atlantis: A Journal of
Technology and Society (2012)
Reporter Ruth Padawer describes how applied behavior analysis (A.B.A.) has
seemingly "cured" some children of autism. She profiles these children,
showcasing their individual responses to therapeutic programs. However,
medical student Aaron Rothstein cautions that autism might be considered an
example of neurodiversi ty, rather than a disorder. He describes how and
why many autism advocates argue against the idea of a "cure." Instead, the
focus of research should be on better understanding the complexity of human
behavior.
Unit 5: Adolescence
Issue: Is Working Dangerous for Teens? Yes: Hans Villarica, from "Caution:
Your Child's First Job May Be Hazardous to Her Health," The Atlantic (2011)
No: Laura Bliss, from "The Hidden Epidemic of Teen Hunger," The Atlantic
(2016)
Hans Villarica's article describes how many adolescents are not equipped to
deal with the workplace-specifically, occupational injuries. While past
research has focuses on psychosocial advantages and disadvantages to
adolescent employment, only recently have scientists begun looking at
workplace conditions and on-the-job hazards. This article suggests much
more attention is warranted to keep adolescents safe. However, what happens
when adolescents do not have access to the income and resources they need?
In this article, Laura Bliss describes the complexities of adolescent
hunger. She describes why adolescents are particularly susceptible to
hunger, and the risk behaviors they engage in to combat food insecurity.
Issue: Is There a Sexting Epidemic? Yes: Hanna Rosin, from "Why Kids Sext,"
The Atlantic (2014) No: Kaitlin Lounsbury, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and David
Finkelhor, from "The True Prevalence of 'Sexting'," Crimes Against Children
Research Center (2011)
Sexting has become a top concern among parents of youth and professionals
who work with them. Hanna Rosin looks into one specific adolescent texting
scandal to examine how youth think about sexting. Her article reveals the
range of responses to sexting, and the harm that can result from
well-intentioned adults. On the other hand, when researchers at the Crimes
Against Children Research Center reviewed studies on adolescent sexting,
they painted a very different picture. They found that findings are
inconsistent and many studies have flawed designs. These researchers
believe that the problem of adolescent sexting has been exaggerated by the
media.
Unit 6: Early Adulthood
Issue: Is Greek Life Dangerous for College Students? Yes: R. Sean Bannon,
Matthew W. Brosi, and John D. Foubert, from "Sorority Women's and
Fraternity Men's Rape Myth Acceptance and Bystander Intervention
Attitudes," Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice (2013) No:
Olga Khazan, from "The Bro Whisperer," The Atlantic (2015)
The research of R. Sean Bannon, Matthew W. Brosi, and John D. Foubert finds
that sorority women were more rejecting of rape myths than fraternity men,
and that they were more willing to intervene in potential sexual assault
situations. Taken as a whole, their research does not paint a complimentary
picture of fraternity men. On the other hand, Olga Khazan follows the work
of sociology professor Michael Kimmel who argues the problem is our
definition of masculinity, not Greek life. This article describes Kimmel's
work to change power dynamics around sexual behaviors. Several potential
solutions are explored, all with the focus on reviving the concept of the
gentleman.
Issue: Do Religion and Spirituality Mean the Same Thing to Today's College
Students? Yes: Diane Winston, from "iFaith in the Amen Corner: How Gen Y Is
Rethinking Religion on Campus," Social Science Research Council Essay Forum
on the Religious Engagements of American Undergraduates (2007) No: Chelsi
A. Creech et al., from "Changing Trends in Ritual Attendance and
Spirituality throughout the College Years," Psychology (2013)
Religion scholar Diane Winston describes interacting with students at her
university and finding that the students have vibrant religious engagements
despite eschewing traditional types of religiosity. The study from Chelsi
Creech and colleagues indicates that religion is better understood from a
multidimensional perspective. They found first-year and upper-class
students differed in terms of their religious attendance and reported daily
spiritual experiences.
Issue: Is Facebook Bad for College Students' Health? Yes: Brian A.
Feinstein, et al., from "Negative Social Comparison on Facebook and
Depressive Symptoms: Rumination as a Mechanism," Psychology of Popular
Media Culture (2013) No: Amy L. Gonzales and Jeffrey T. Hancock, from
"Mirror, Mirror on My Facebook Wall: Effects of Exposure to Facebook on
Self-Esteem," Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (2011)
Researchers Brian Feinstein and colleagues explore the link between use of
social networking sites and depressive symptoms. Their study examined
undergraduate students' use of Facebook. They argue that negatively
comparing oneself with others is linked with rumination, which is linked
with depression. The research from Amy Gonzales and Jeffrey Hancock
presents a different view of the impact of social networking sites on
mental health. Their research demonstrates how viewing one's Facebook
profile actually enhances self-esteem through selective self-presentation.
Unit 7: Middle Adulthood
Issue: Do Adults Need to Place More Value on Marriage? Yes: W. Bradford
Wilcox, from Why Marriage Matters: Thirty Conclusions from the Social
Sciences, Institute for American Values (2011) No: Brenda McKerson, from
"Raising the Next Generation: What's Gender Got to Do with It?" Plaza:
Dialogues in Language and Literature (2014)
Sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox led a team of prominent family scholars to
draw conclusions about the contemporary state of marriage as an
institution, and the consequences of being married. They conclude that
although marriage patterns are changing, traditional marriages still
benefit adults and society. Brenda McKerson draws parallels between racial
discrimination in the 1960's and discrimination faced by same-sex couples
today. She argues that research on "nontraditional" couples often reflects
heterosexist norms. Furthermore, McKerson believes that as generations
become more accepting of different family structures, research findings
will change to reflect this acceptance.
Issue: Should Grandparents Have Visitation Rights to Their Grandchildren?
Yes: Lixia Qu et al., from "Grandparenting and the 2006 Family Law
Reforms," Family Matters (2011) No: Rachel Dunifon and Ashish Bajracharya,
from "The Role of Grandparents in the Lives of Youth," Journal of Family
Issues (2012)
Lixia Qu and colleagues review Australian data on grandparent-grandchild
involvement before and after the 2006 legal reforms. They find that that
family law reforms are consistent with parental beliefs about grandparent
involvement. However, they caution that the reforms do not address many
practicalities, including knowledge about the legal system. However, the
research of Rachel Dunifon and Ashish Bajracharya does not find clear
evidence that grandparents influence the well-being of their grandchildren.
They find that distance, the parent's relationship with the grandparent and
child, and age of child and parent all contribute to the quality of the
grandparent-grandchild relationship.
Unit 8: Late Adulthood
Issue: Should Assisted Suicide Be Legal for Everyone? Yes: April Dembosky,
from "Doctors' Secret Language for Assisted Suicide," The Atlantic (2015)
No: Ira Byock, from "Physician-assisted Suicide Is Not Progressive," The
Atlantic (2012)
"Assisted suicide," or euthanasia, has become a more familiar phrase with
sick, aging adults looking for personal control during this last part of
life. April Dembosky argues that because many state laws prohibit
euthanasia, medical professionals cannot converse properly with their
patients about end-of-life decisions. Legalizing assisted suicide across
the nation would allow for better communication, the article posits. Ira
Byock, in contrast, believes that physician-assisted suicide should not be
legal. In this article, he describes the political climate influencing the
euthanasia debate. Furthermore, Byock claims that the focus should be on
improving end-of-life care.
Issue: Should We Try to "Cure" Old Age? Yes: Michael J. Rae et al., from
"The Demographic and Biomedical Case for Late-Life Interventions in Aging,"
Science Translational Medicine (2010) No: Ezekiel J. Emanuel, from "Why I
Hope to Die At 75," The Atlantic (2014)
Michael J. Rae was lead author on an article presenting the position a
group of prominent antiaging scholars. They promote more funding and
support for what they consider promising research directions towards
slowing or even curing aging. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and
bioethicist, presents a contrasting view. He argues against an
ever-expanding lifespan. Instead, he believes this article suggest our
focus should be on maximizing our quality of life and accepting the
inevitability of death.
Issue: Does the Cultural Environment Influence Lifespan Development More
Than Our Genes? Yes: Rachael E. Jack et al., from "Facial Expressions of
Emotion Are Not Culturally Universal," Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences (2012) No: Beau Sievers et al., from "Music and Movement Share
a Dynamic Structure that Supports Universal Expressions of Emotion,"
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2013)
The long-standing question of whether nature or nurture has a bigger impact
on our development can be examined in terms of our emotions. Many believe
that emotions are biologically hardwired; however, the research from Rachel
Jack and colleagues questions that belief. These researchers compared
facial expressions of emotions of individuals from Western and Eastern
cultures, finding differences that highlight the influence of culture on
how we represent emotions. However, the work of Beau Sievers and colleagues
studies music in the United States and in an isolated tribal village in
Cambodia. They utilized a computer program to generate matching examples of
music and movement. They found that music and movement were interpreted
similarly both within and across cultures, suggesting a universal
expression of emotion.
Issue: Is Chinese Parenting Culturally Distinct? Yes: Amy Chua, from "Why
Chinese Mothers Are Superior," The Wall Street Journal (2011) No: Su Yeong
Kim, from "Defining Tiger Parenting in Chinese Americans," Human
Development (2013)
Amy Chau, the author of The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother discusses
strategies to achieve success in child-rearing, highlighting the techniques
of "Chinese" mothers. She argues that raising successful children is less
about bolstering their self-esteem and more about instilling disciplined
work habits and high standards, values that are important to academic and
life success. Su Yeong Kim, on the other hand, argues that tiger parenting
is not common among Chinese-American families. This paper reviews the
parenting literature on Asian American parenting along with Chua's
description of her own parenting. Kim also provides evidence that
Chinese-American adolescents benefit from supportive parenting, quite
different from the methods originally described by Chua.
Issue: Should Happiness Be Our Goal? Yes: Daniel Sgroi, from "Happiness and
Productivity: Understanding the Happy-productive Worker," Global
Perspectives Series: Paper (2015) No: Sharon Begley, from "Happiness:
Enough Already," Newsweek (2008)
Much of psychology's history has focused on dysfunction and misery.
However, in more recent years, psychologists have shifted their attention
to study wellness, and, more specifically, happiness. Daniel Sgroi utilizes
several small experiments to demonstrate happiness as an input to economic
processes of productivity. His paper argues that the main path from
happiness to productivity is through increased work effort. Reporter Sharon
Begley does not dispute the importance of happiness, but argues for a
moderate approach to positive psychology. In this article, Begley discusses
the extremist nature of much of the research and emphasizes the need to
move beyond the dichotomous thinking of misery versus happiness. Moreover,
she suggests that that there is an evolutionary need to experience negative
emotions.
Unit 2: Prenatal Development and Infancy
Issue: Are Midwives and Homebirths the Best Option? Yes: Jamie Santa Cruz,
from "Call the Midwife," The Atlantic (2015) No: Jonathan M. Snowden et
al., from "Planned Out-of-Hospital Birth and Birth Outcomes," The New
England Journal of Medicine (2015)
Jamie Santa Cruz documents a growing trend among American mothers to rely
on midwives, rather than physicians, for prenatal care, labor, and
delivery. She describes the roles of rising costs of labor and delivery,
rates of surgery and other medical interventions, and philosophical
differences in this trend. However, are midwife-attended births safe?
Jonathan Snowden and colleagues analyzed data of Oregon births that took
place during 2012 and 2013. They found that perinatal mortality was higher
with planned out-of-hospital birth than with planned in-hospital birth.
Their study highlights the complexities involved in assessing birth risks.
Issue: Is Breastfeeding Inevitably Best for Healthy Development? Yes: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, from The Surgeon General's Call to
Action to Support Breastfeeding, Office of the Surgeon General (2011) No:
Courtney Jung, from "Overselling Breastfeeding," The New York Times (2015)
Breastfeeding children is both a personal and societal issue. As part of a
broad mandate to advocate for public health, the U.S. Surgeon General cites
numerous benefits of breastfeeding as part of "call to action" oriented
toward increasing the practice among new mothers. However, Courtney Jung's
article provides a cautionary view of these benefits. She describes the
zealousness with which Americans pursue breastfeeding, possibly to the
detriment of the mother's health and with limited benefits for the child.
Jung also describes the economic motivation for encouraging breastfeeding.
She does not discourage it, but, rather invites readers to examine
parenting practices with a critical lens.
Issue: Is Co-sleeping Safe for Baby? Yes: Wendy Middlemiss, from "Bringing
the Parent Back into Decisions about Nighttime Care," Clinical Lactation
(2013) No: Adrienne LaFrance, from "About that Scary Swaddling Study," The
Atlantic (2016)
Educational psychologist Wendy Middlemiss advocates that health-care
providers discuss options of nighttime care with parents, rather than
providing specific advice that may conflict with parents' beliefs and
preferences. Furthermore, she discusses ways for health-care providers
address infant safety and health that best match each family. However, all
choices may not be equal, argues Adrienne LaFrance. Her article describes a
new meta-analysis that links swaddling with a higher risk of SIDS.
Importantly, LaFrance emphasizes the importance of how research is
interpreting and examines some of the limitations to the meta-analysis. Her
work emphasizes the need for caregivers to engage in thoughtful
decision-making regarding nighttime care.
Unit 3: Early Childhood
Issue: Do Innate Gender Differences Influence How Children Learn? Yes:
Kelley King, Michael Gurian, and Kathy Stevens, from "Gender-Friendly
Schools," Educational Leadership (2010) No: Lise Eliot, from "The Myth of
Pink and Blue Brains," Educational Leadership (2010)
Kelley King, Michael Gurian, and Kathy Stevens, all affiliated with an
institute that advocates for accommodating gender differences in learning,
identify developmental differences between boys and girls that are deep
enough to merit distinct educational practices. Lise Eliot explains how
small gender differences in infancy become magnified through parental
interactions with their children. She argues that teachers, as well, need
to be aware of how they treat boys and girls so they do not exacerbate
gender stereotypes.
Issue: Is Preschool Education Worthwhile? Yes: Hirokazu Yoshikawa, et al.,
from Investing in Our Future: The Evidence Base on Preschool Education,
Society for Research in Child Development and Foundation for Child
Development (2013) No: David J. Armor and Sonia Sousa, from "The Dubious
Promise of Universal Preschool," National Affairs (2014)
Hirokazu Yoshikawa led a team of researchers from the Foundation for Child
Development in an examination of the current research on early childhood
education. They find that scientific research supports the academic,
social, emotional, and economic benefits of preschool. Professors David
Armor and Sonia Sousa, in contrast, point to disappointing results from the
existing federal preschool program Head Start. They do not believe research
overwhelmingly supports the benefits of preschool.
Unit 4: Middle Childhood
Issue: Are Violent Video Games Necessarily Bad for Children? Yes: Craig A.
Anderson, from "Violent Video Games and Other Media Violence (Parts 1 &
2)," Pediatrics for Parents (2010) No: Cheryl K. Olsen, Lawrence Kutner,
and Eugene Beresin, from "Children and Video Games: How Much Do We Know?"
Psychiatric Times (2007)
Psychologist and researcher Craig A. Anderson finds that violent video game
play consistently associates with aggression and problematic behavior,
arguing that there is no good reason for making them available to children.
Cheryl K. Olsen, Lawrence Kutner, and Eugene Beresin have all been
affiliated with a Harvard Medical School center devoted to studying mental
health and the media. In their work they recognize the potential risks of
violent video games, but find that most children play video games in ways
that pose little risk and offer some potential benefit.
Issue: Should We Try to "Cure" Autism? Yes: Ruth Padawer, from "The Kids
Who Beat Autism," The New York Times (2014) No: Aaron Rothstein, from
"Mental Disorder or Neurodiversity?" The New Atlantis: A Journal of
Technology and Society (2012)
Reporter Ruth Padawer describes how applied behavior analysis (A.B.A.) has
seemingly "cured" some children of autism. She profiles these children,
showcasing their individual responses to therapeutic programs. However,
medical student Aaron Rothstein cautions that autism might be considered an
example of neurodiversi ty, rather than a disorder. He describes how and
why many autism advocates argue against the idea of a "cure." Instead, the
focus of research should be on better understanding the complexity of human
behavior.
Unit 5: Adolescence
Issue: Is Working Dangerous for Teens? Yes: Hans Villarica, from "Caution:
Your Child's First Job May Be Hazardous to Her Health," The Atlantic (2011)
No: Laura Bliss, from "The Hidden Epidemic of Teen Hunger," The Atlantic
(2016)
Hans Villarica's article describes how many adolescents are not equipped to
deal with the workplace-specifically, occupational injuries. While past
research has focuses on psychosocial advantages and disadvantages to
adolescent employment, only recently have scientists begun looking at
workplace conditions and on-the-job hazards. This article suggests much
more attention is warranted to keep adolescents safe. However, what happens
when adolescents do not have access to the income and resources they need?
In this article, Laura Bliss describes the complexities of adolescent
hunger. She describes why adolescents are particularly susceptible to
hunger, and the risk behaviors they engage in to combat food insecurity.
Issue: Is There a Sexting Epidemic? Yes: Hanna Rosin, from "Why Kids Sext,"
The Atlantic (2014) No: Kaitlin Lounsbury, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and David
Finkelhor, from "The True Prevalence of 'Sexting'," Crimes Against Children
Research Center (2011)
Sexting has become a top concern among parents of youth and professionals
who work with them. Hanna Rosin looks into one specific adolescent texting
scandal to examine how youth think about sexting. Her article reveals the
range of responses to sexting, and the harm that can result from
well-intentioned adults. On the other hand, when researchers at the Crimes
Against Children Research Center reviewed studies on adolescent sexting,
they painted a very different picture. They found that findings are
inconsistent and many studies have flawed designs. These researchers
believe that the problem of adolescent sexting has been exaggerated by the
media.
Unit 6: Early Adulthood
Issue: Is Greek Life Dangerous for College Students? Yes: R. Sean Bannon,
Matthew W. Brosi, and John D. Foubert, from "Sorority Women's and
Fraternity Men's Rape Myth Acceptance and Bystander Intervention
Attitudes," Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice (2013) No:
Olga Khazan, from "The Bro Whisperer," The Atlantic (2015)
The research of R. Sean Bannon, Matthew W. Brosi, and John D. Foubert finds
that sorority women were more rejecting of rape myths than fraternity men,
and that they were more willing to intervene in potential sexual assault
situations. Taken as a whole, their research does not paint a complimentary
picture of fraternity men. On the other hand, Olga Khazan follows the work
of sociology professor Michael Kimmel who argues the problem is our
definition of masculinity, not Greek life. This article describes Kimmel's
work to change power dynamics around sexual behaviors. Several potential
solutions are explored, all with the focus on reviving the concept of the
gentleman.
Issue: Do Religion and Spirituality Mean the Same Thing to Today's College
Students? Yes: Diane Winston, from "iFaith in the Amen Corner: How Gen Y Is
Rethinking Religion on Campus," Social Science Research Council Essay Forum
on the Religious Engagements of American Undergraduates (2007) No: Chelsi
A. Creech et al., from "Changing Trends in Ritual Attendance and
Spirituality throughout the College Years," Psychology (2013)
Religion scholar Diane Winston describes interacting with students at her
university and finding that the students have vibrant religious engagements
despite eschewing traditional types of religiosity. The study from Chelsi
Creech and colleagues indicates that religion is better understood from a
multidimensional perspective. They found first-year and upper-class
students differed in terms of their religious attendance and reported daily
spiritual experiences.
Issue: Is Facebook Bad for College Students' Health? Yes: Brian A.
Feinstein, et al., from "Negative Social Comparison on Facebook and
Depressive Symptoms: Rumination as a Mechanism," Psychology of Popular
Media Culture (2013) No: Amy L. Gonzales and Jeffrey T. Hancock, from
"Mirror, Mirror on My Facebook Wall: Effects of Exposure to Facebook on
Self-Esteem," Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (2011)
Researchers Brian Feinstein and colleagues explore the link between use of
social networking sites and depressive symptoms. Their study examined
undergraduate students' use of Facebook. They argue that negatively
comparing oneself with others is linked with rumination, which is linked
with depression. The research from Amy Gonzales and Jeffrey Hancock
presents a different view of the impact of social networking sites on
mental health. Their research demonstrates how viewing one's Facebook
profile actually enhances self-esteem through selective self-presentation.
Unit 7: Middle Adulthood
Issue: Do Adults Need to Place More Value on Marriage? Yes: W. Bradford
Wilcox, from Why Marriage Matters: Thirty Conclusions from the Social
Sciences, Institute for American Values (2011) No: Brenda McKerson, from
"Raising the Next Generation: What's Gender Got to Do with It?" Plaza:
Dialogues in Language and Literature (2014)
Sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox led a team of prominent family scholars to
draw conclusions about the contemporary state of marriage as an
institution, and the consequences of being married. They conclude that
although marriage patterns are changing, traditional marriages still
benefit adults and society. Brenda McKerson draws parallels between racial
discrimination in the 1960's and discrimination faced by same-sex couples
today. She argues that research on "nontraditional" couples often reflects
heterosexist norms. Furthermore, McKerson believes that as generations
become more accepting of different family structures, research findings
will change to reflect this acceptance.
Issue: Should Grandparents Have Visitation Rights to Their Grandchildren?
Yes: Lixia Qu et al., from "Grandparenting and the 2006 Family Law
Reforms," Family Matters (2011) No: Rachel Dunifon and Ashish Bajracharya,
from "The Role of Grandparents in the Lives of Youth," Journal of Family
Issues (2012)
Lixia Qu and colleagues review Australian data on grandparent-grandchild
involvement before and after the 2006 legal reforms. They find that that
family law reforms are consistent with parental beliefs about grandparent
involvement. However, they caution that the reforms do not address many
practicalities, including knowledge about the legal system. However, the
research of Rachel Dunifon and Ashish Bajracharya does not find clear
evidence that grandparents influence the well-being of their grandchildren.
They find that distance, the parent's relationship with the grandparent and
child, and age of child and parent all contribute to the quality of the
grandparent-grandchild relationship.
Unit 8: Late Adulthood
Issue: Should Assisted Suicide Be Legal for Everyone? Yes: April Dembosky,
from "Doctors' Secret Language for Assisted Suicide," The Atlantic (2015)
No: Ira Byock, from "Physician-assisted Suicide Is Not Progressive," The
Atlantic (2012)
"Assisted suicide," or euthanasia, has become a more familiar phrase with
sick, aging adults looking for personal control during this last part of
life. April Dembosky argues that because many state laws prohibit
euthanasia, medical professionals cannot converse properly with their
patients about end-of-life decisions. Legalizing assisted suicide across
the nation would allow for better communication, the article posits. Ira
Byock, in contrast, believes that physician-assisted suicide should not be
legal. In this article, he describes the political climate influencing the
euthanasia debate. Furthermore, Byock claims that the focus should be on
improving end-of-life care.
Issue: Should We Try to "Cure" Old Age? Yes: Michael J. Rae et al., from
"The Demographic and Biomedical Case for Late-Life Interventions in Aging,"
Science Translational Medicine (2010) No: Ezekiel J. Emanuel, from "Why I
Hope to Die At 75," The Atlantic (2014)
Michael J. Rae was lead author on an article presenting the position a
group of prominent antiaging scholars. They promote more funding and
support for what they consider promising research directions towards
slowing or even curing aging. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and
bioethicist, presents a contrasting view. He argues against an
ever-expanding lifespan. Instead, he believes this article suggest our
focus should be on maximizing our quality of life and accepting the
inevitability of death.
Unit 1: General Issues in the Study of Lifespan Development
Issue: Does the Cultural Environment Influence Lifespan Development More
Than Our Genes? Yes: Rachael E. Jack et al., from "Facial Expressions of
Emotion Are Not Culturally Universal," Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences (2012) No: Beau Sievers et al., from "Music and Movement Share
a Dynamic Structure that Supports Universal Expressions of Emotion,"
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2013)
The long-standing question of whether nature or nurture has a bigger impact
on our development can be examined in terms of our emotions. Many believe
that emotions are biologically hardwired; however, the research from Rachel
Jack and colleagues questions that belief. These researchers compared
facial expressions of emotions of individuals from Western and Eastern
cultures, finding differences that highlight the influence of culture on
how we represent emotions. However, the work of Beau Sievers and colleagues
studies music in the United States and in an isolated tribal village in
Cambodia. They utilized a computer program to generate matching examples of
music and movement. They found that music and movement were interpreted
similarly both within and across cultures, suggesting a universal
expression of emotion.
Issue: Is Chinese Parenting Culturally Distinct? Yes: Amy Chua, from "Why
Chinese Mothers Are Superior," The Wall Street Journal (2011) No: Su Yeong
Kim, from "Defining Tiger Parenting in Chinese Americans," Human
Development (2013)
Amy Chau, the author of The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother discusses
strategies to achieve success in child-rearing, highlighting the techniques
of "Chinese" mothers. She argues that raising successful children is less
about bolstering their self-esteem and more about instilling disciplined
work habits and high standards, values that are important to academic and
life success. Su Yeong Kim, on the other hand, argues that tiger parenting
is not common among Chinese-American families. This paper reviews the
parenting literature on Asian American parenting along with Chua's
description of her own parenting. Kim also provides evidence that
Chinese-American adolescents benefit from supportive parenting, quite
different from the methods originally described by Chua.
Issue: Should Happiness Be Our Goal? Yes: Daniel Sgroi, from "Happiness and
Productivity: Understanding the Happy-productive Worker," Global
Perspectives Series: Paper (2015) No: Sharon Begley, from "Happiness:
Enough Already," Newsweek (2008)
Much of psychology's history has focused on dysfunction and misery.
However, in more recent years, psychologists have shifted their attention
to study wellness, and, more specifically, happiness. Daniel Sgroi utilizes
several small experiments to demonstrate happiness as an input to economic
processes of productivity. His paper argues that the main path from
happiness to productivity is through increased work effort. Reporter Sharon
Begley does not dispute the importance of happiness, but argues for a
moderate approach to positive psychology. In this article, Begley discusses
the extremist nature of much of the research and emphasizes the need to
move beyond the dichotomous thinking of misery versus happiness. Moreover,
she suggests that that there is an evolutionary need to experience negative
emotions.
Unit 2: Prenatal Development and Infancy
Issue: Are Midwives and Homebirths the Best Option? Yes: Jamie Santa Cruz,
from "Call the Midwife," The Atlantic (2015) No: Jonathan M. Snowden et
al., from "Planned Out-of-Hospital Birth and Birth Outcomes," The New
England Journal of Medicine (2015)
Jamie Santa Cruz documents a growing trend among American mothers to rely
on midwives, rather than physicians, for prenatal care, labor, and
delivery. She describes the roles of rising costs of labor and delivery,
rates of surgery and other medical interventions, and philosophical
differences in this trend. However, are midwife-attended births safe?
Jonathan Snowden and colleagues analyzed data of Oregon births that took
place during 2012 and 2013. They found that perinatal mortality was higher
with planned out-of-hospital birth than with planned in-hospital birth.
Their study highlights the complexities involved in assessing birth risks.
Issue: Is Breastfeeding Inevitably Best for Healthy Development? Yes: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, from The Surgeon General's Call to
Action to Support Breastfeeding, Office of the Surgeon General (2011) No:
Courtney Jung, from "Overselling Breastfeeding," The New York Times (2015)
Breastfeeding children is both a personal and societal issue. As part of a
broad mandate to advocate for public health, the U.S. Surgeon General cites
numerous benefits of breastfeeding as part of "call to action" oriented
toward increasing the practice among new mothers. However, Courtney Jung's
article provides a cautionary view of these benefits. She describes the
zealousness with which Americans pursue breastfeeding, possibly to the
detriment of the mother's health and with limited benefits for the child.
Jung also describes the economic motivation for encouraging breastfeeding.
She does not discourage it, but, rather invites readers to examine
parenting practices with a critical lens.
Issue: Is Co-sleeping Safe for Baby? Yes: Wendy Middlemiss, from "Bringing
the Parent Back into Decisions about Nighttime Care," Clinical Lactation
(2013) No: Adrienne LaFrance, from "About that Scary Swaddling Study," The
Atlantic (2016)
Educational psychologist Wendy Middlemiss advocates that health-care
providers discuss options of nighttime care with parents, rather than
providing specific advice that may conflict with parents' beliefs and
preferences. Furthermore, she discusses ways for health-care providers
address infant safety and health that best match each family. However, all
choices may not be equal, argues Adrienne LaFrance. Her article describes a
new meta-analysis that links swaddling with a higher risk of SIDS.
Importantly, LaFrance emphasizes the importance of how research is
interpreting and examines some of the limitations to the meta-analysis. Her
work emphasizes the need for caregivers to engage in thoughtful
decision-making regarding nighttime care.
Unit 3: Early Childhood
Issue: Do Innate Gender Differences Influence How Children Learn? Yes:
Kelley King, Michael Gurian, and Kathy Stevens, from "Gender-Friendly
Schools," Educational Leadership (2010) No: Lise Eliot, from "The Myth of
Pink and Blue Brains," Educational Leadership (2010)
Kelley King, Michael Gurian, and Kathy Stevens, all affiliated with an
institute that advocates for accommodating gender differences in learning,
identify developmental differences between boys and girls that are deep
enough to merit distinct educational practices. Lise Eliot explains how
small gender differences in infancy become magnified through parental
interactions with their children. She argues that teachers, as well, need
to be aware of how they treat boys and girls so they do not exacerbate
gender stereotypes.
Issue: Is Preschool Education Worthwhile? Yes: Hirokazu Yoshikawa, et al.,
from Investing in Our Future: The Evidence Base on Preschool Education,
Society for Research in Child Development and Foundation for Child
Development (2013) No: David J. Armor and Sonia Sousa, from "The Dubious
Promise of Universal Preschool," National Affairs (2014)
Hirokazu Yoshikawa led a team of researchers from the Foundation for Child
Development in an examination of the current research on early childhood
education. They find that scientific research supports the academic,
social, emotional, and economic benefits of preschool. Professors David
Armor and Sonia Sousa, in contrast, point to disappointing results from the
existing federal preschool program Head Start. They do not believe research
overwhelmingly supports the benefits of preschool.
Unit 4: Middle Childhood
Issue: Are Violent Video Games Necessarily Bad for Children? Yes: Craig A.
Anderson, from "Violent Video Games and Other Media Violence (Parts 1 &
2)," Pediatrics for Parents (2010) No: Cheryl K. Olsen, Lawrence Kutner,
and Eugene Beresin, from "Children and Video Games: How Much Do We Know?"
Psychiatric Times (2007)
Psychologist and researcher Craig A. Anderson finds that violent video game
play consistently associates with aggression and problematic behavior,
arguing that there is no good reason for making them available to children.
Cheryl K. Olsen, Lawrence Kutner, and Eugene Beresin have all been
affiliated with a Harvard Medical School center devoted to studying mental
health and the media. In their work they recognize the potential risks of
violent video games, but find that most children play video games in ways
that pose little risk and offer some potential benefit.
Issue: Should We Try to "Cure" Autism? Yes: Ruth Padawer, from "The Kids
Who Beat Autism," The New York Times (2014) No: Aaron Rothstein, from
"Mental Disorder or Neurodiversity?" The New Atlantis: A Journal of
Technology and Society (2012)
Reporter Ruth Padawer describes how applied behavior analysis (A.B.A.) has
seemingly "cured" some children of autism. She profiles these children,
showcasing their individual responses to therapeutic programs. However,
medical student Aaron Rothstein cautions that autism might be considered an
example of neurodiversi ty, rather than a disorder. He describes how and
why many autism advocates argue against the idea of a "cure." Instead, the
focus of research should be on better understanding the complexity of human
behavior.
Unit 5: Adolescence
Issue: Is Working Dangerous for Teens? Yes: Hans Villarica, from "Caution:
Your Child's First Job May Be Hazardous to Her Health," The Atlantic (2011)
No: Laura Bliss, from "The Hidden Epidemic of Teen Hunger," The Atlantic
(2016)
Hans Villarica's article describes how many adolescents are not equipped to
deal with the workplace-specifically, occupational injuries. While past
research has focuses on psychosocial advantages and disadvantages to
adolescent employment, only recently have scientists begun looking at
workplace conditions and on-the-job hazards. This article suggests much
more attention is warranted to keep adolescents safe. However, what happens
when adolescents do not have access to the income and resources they need?
In this article, Laura Bliss describes the complexities of adolescent
hunger. She describes why adolescents are particularly susceptible to
hunger, and the risk behaviors they engage in to combat food insecurity.
Issue: Is There a Sexting Epidemic? Yes: Hanna Rosin, from "Why Kids Sext,"
The Atlantic (2014) No: Kaitlin Lounsbury, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and David
Finkelhor, from "The True Prevalence of 'Sexting'," Crimes Against Children
Research Center (2011)
Sexting has become a top concern among parents of youth and professionals
who work with them. Hanna Rosin looks into one specific adolescent texting
scandal to examine how youth think about sexting. Her article reveals the
range of responses to sexting, and the harm that can result from
well-intentioned adults. On the other hand, when researchers at the Crimes
Against Children Research Center reviewed studies on adolescent sexting,
they painted a very different picture. They found that findings are
inconsistent and many studies have flawed designs. These researchers
believe that the problem of adolescent sexting has been exaggerated by the
media.
Unit 6: Early Adulthood
Issue: Is Greek Life Dangerous for College Students? Yes: R. Sean Bannon,
Matthew W. Brosi, and John D. Foubert, from "Sorority Women's and
Fraternity Men's Rape Myth Acceptance and Bystander Intervention
Attitudes," Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice (2013) No:
Olga Khazan, from "The Bro Whisperer," The Atlantic (2015)
The research of R. Sean Bannon, Matthew W. Brosi, and John D. Foubert finds
that sorority women were more rejecting of rape myths than fraternity men,
and that they were more willing to intervene in potential sexual assault
situations. Taken as a whole, their research does not paint a complimentary
picture of fraternity men. On the other hand, Olga Khazan follows the work
of sociology professor Michael Kimmel who argues the problem is our
definition of masculinity, not Greek life. This article describes Kimmel's
work to change power dynamics around sexual behaviors. Several potential
solutions are explored, all with the focus on reviving the concept of the
gentleman.
Issue: Do Religion and Spirituality Mean the Same Thing to Today's College
Students? Yes: Diane Winston, from "iFaith in the Amen Corner: How Gen Y Is
Rethinking Religion on Campus," Social Science Research Council Essay Forum
on the Religious Engagements of American Undergraduates (2007) No: Chelsi
A. Creech et al., from "Changing Trends in Ritual Attendance and
Spirituality throughout the College Years," Psychology (2013)
Religion scholar Diane Winston describes interacting with students at her
university and finding that the students have vibrant religious engagements
despite eschewing traditional types of religiosity. The study from Chelsi
Creech and colleagues indicates that religion is better understood from a
multidimensional perspective. They found first-year and upper-class
students differed in terms of their religious attendance and reported daily
spiritual experiences.
Issue: Is Facebook Bad for College Students' Health? Yes: Brian A.
Feinstein, et al., from "Negative Social Comparison on Facebook and
Depressive Symptoms: Rumination as a Mechanism," Psychology of Popular
Media Culture (2013) No: Amy L. Gonzales and Jeffrey T. Hancock, from
"Mirror, Mirror on My Facebook Wall: Effects of Exposure to Facebook on
Self-Esteem," Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (2011)
Researchers Brian Feinstein and colleagues explore the link between use of
social networking sites and depressive symptoms. Their study examined
undergraduate students' use of Facebook. They argue that negatively
comparing oneself with others is linked with rumination, which is linked
with depression. The research from Amy Gonzales and Jeffrey Hancock
presents a different view of the impact of social networking sites on
mental health. Their research demonstrates how viewing one's Facebook
profile actually enhances self-esteem through selective self-presentation.
Unit 7: Middle Adulthood
Issue: Do Adults Need to Place More Value on Marriage? Yes: W. Bradford
Wilcox, from Why Marriage Matters: Thirty Conclusions from the Social
Sciences, Institute for American Values (2011) No: Brenda McKerson, from
"Raising the Next Generation: What's Gender Got to Do with It?" Plaza:
Dialogues in Language and Literature (2014)
Sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox led a team of prominent family scholars to
draw conclusions about the contemporary state of marriage as an
institution, and the consequences of being married. They conclude that
although marriage patterns are changing, traditional marriages still
benefit adults and society. Brenda McKerson draws parallels between racial
discrimination in the 1960's and discrimination faced by same-sex couples
today. She argues that research on "nontraditional" couples often reflects
heterosexist norms. Furthermore, McKerson believes that as generations
become more accepting of different family structures, research findings
will change to reflect this acceptance.
Issue: Should Grandparents Have Visitation Rights to Their Grandchildren?
Yes: Lixia Qu et al., from "Grandparenting and the 2006 Family Law
Reforms," Family Matters (2011) No: Rachel Dunifon and Ashish Bajracharya,
from "The Role of Grandparents in the Lives of Youth," Journal of Family
Issues (2012)
Lixia Qu and colleagues review Australian data on grandparent-grandchild
involvement before and after the 2006 legal reforms. They find that that
family law reforms are consistent with parental beliefs about grandparent
involvement. However, they caution that the reforms do not address many
practicalities, including knowledge about the legal system. However, the
research of Rachel Dunifon and Ashish Bajracharya does not find clear
evidence that grandparents influence the well-being of their grandchildren.
They find that distance, the parent's relationship with the grandparent and
child, and age of child and parent all contribute to the quality of the
grandparent-grandchild relationship.
Unit 8: Late Adulthood
Issue: Should Assisted Suicide Be Legal for Everyone? Yes: April Dembosky,
from "Doctors' Secret Language for Assisted Suicide," The Atlantic (2015)
No: Ira Byock, from "Physician-assisted Suicide Is Not Progressive," The
Atlantic (2012)
"Assisted suicide," or euthanasia, has become a more familiar phrase with
sick, aging adults looking for personal control during this last part of
life. April Dembosky argues that because many state laws prohibit
euthanasia, medical professionals cannot converse properly with their
patients about end-of-life decisions. Legalizing assisted suicide across
the nation would allow for better communication, the article posits. Ira
Byock, in contrast, believes that physician-assisted suicide should not be
legal. In this article, he describes the political climate influencing the
euthanasia debate. Furthermore, Byock claims that the focus should be on
improving end-of-life care.
Issue: Should We Try to "Cure" Old Age? Yes: Michael J. Rae et al., from
"The Demographic and Biomedical Case for Late-Life Interventions in Aging,"
Science Translational Medicine (2010) No: Ezekiel J. Emanuel, from "Why I
Hope to Die At 75," The Atlantic (2014)
Michael J. Rae was lead author on an article presenting the position a
group of prominent antiaging scholars. They promote more funding and
support for what they consider promising research directions towards
slowing or even curing aging. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and
bioethicist, presents a contrasting view. He argues against an
ever-expanding lifespan. Instead, he believes this article suggest our
focus should be on maximizing our quality of life and accepting the
inevitability of death.
Issue: Does the Cultural Environment Influence Lifespan Development More
Than Our Genes? Yes: Rachael E. Jack et al., from "Facial Expressions of
Emotion Are Not Culturally Universal," Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences (2012) No: Beau Sievers et al., from "Music and Movement Share
a Dynamic Structure that Supports Universal Expressions of Emotion,"
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2013)
The long-standing question of whether nature or nurture has a bigger impact
on our development can be examined in terms of our emotions. Many believe
that emotions are biologically hardwired; however, the research from Rachel
Jack and colleagues questions that belief. These researchers compared
facial expressions of emotions of individuals from Western and Eastern
cultures, finding differences that highlight the influence of culture on
how we represent emotions. However, the work of Beau Sievers and colleagues
studies music in the United States and in an isolated tribal village in
Cambodia. They utilized a computer program to generate matching examples of
music and movement. They found that music and movement were interpreted
similarly both within and across cultures, suggesting a universal
expression of emotion.
Issue: Is Chinese Parenting Culturally Distinct? Yes: Amy Chua, from "Why
Chinese Mothers Are Superior," The Wall Street Journal (2011) No: Su Yeong
Kim, from "Defining Tiger Parenting in Chinese Americans," Human
Development (2013)
Amy Chau, the author of The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother discusses
strategies to achieve success in child-rearing, highlighting the techniques
of "Chinese" mothers. She argues that raising successful children is less
about bolstering their self-esteem and more about instilling disciplined
work habits and high standards, values that are important to academic and
life success. Su Yeong Kim, on the other hand, argues that tiger parenting
is not common among Chinese-American families. This paper reviews the
parenting literature on Asian American parenting along with Chua's
description of her own parenting. Kim also provides evidence that
Chinese-American adolescents benefit from supportive parenting, quite
different from the methods originally described by Chua.
Issue: Should Happiness Be Our Goal? Yes: Daniel Sgroi, from "Happiness and
Productivity: Understanding the Happy-productive Worker," Global
Perspectives Series: Paper (2015) No: Sharon Begley, from "Happiness:
Enough Already," Newsweek (2008)
Much of psychology's history has focused on dysfunction and misery.
However, in more recent years, psychologists have shifted their attention
to study wellness, and, more specifically, happiness. Daniel Sgroi utilizes
several small experiments to demonstrate happiness as an input to economic
processes of productivity. His paper argues that the main path from
happiness to productivity is through increased work effort. Reporter Sharon
Begley does not dispute the importance of happiness, but argues for a
moderate approach to positive psychology. In this article, Begley discusses
the extremist nature of much of the research and emphasizes the need to
move beyond the dichotomous thinking of misery versus happiness. Moreover,
she suggests that that there is an evolutionary need to experience negative
emotions.
Unit 2: Prenatal Development and Infancy
Issue: Are Midwives and Homebirths the Best Option? Yes: Jamie Santa Cruz,
from "Call the Midwife," The Atlantic (2015) No: Jonathan M. Snowden et
al., from "Planned Out-of-Hospital Birth and Birth Outcomes," The New
England Journal of Medicine (2015)
Jamie Santa Cruz documents a growing trend among American mothers to rely
on midwives, rather than physicians, for prenatal care, labor, and
delivery. She describes the roles of rising costs of labor and delivery,
rates of surgery and other medical interventions, and philosophical
differences in this trend. However, are midwife-attended births safe?
Jonathan Snowden and colleagues analyzed data of Oregon births that took
place during 2012 and 2013. They found that perinatal mortality was higher
with planned out-of-hospital birth than with planned in-hospital birth.
Their study highlights the complexities involved in assessing birth risks.
Issue: Is Breastfeeding Inevitably Best for Healthy Development? Yes: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, from The Surgeon General's Call to
Action to Support Breastfeeding, Office of the Surgeon General (2011) No:
Courtney Jung, from "Overselling Breastfeeding," The New York Times (2015)
Breastfeeding children is both a personal and societal issue. As part of a
broad mandate to advocate for public health, the U.S. Surgeon General cites
numerous benefits of breastfeeding as part of "call to action" oriented
toward increasing the practice among new mothers. However, Courtney Jung's
article provides a cautionary view of these benefits. She describes the
zealousness with which Americans pursue breastfeeding, possibly to the
detriment of the mother's health and with limited benefits for the child.
Jung also describes the economic motivation for encouraging breastfeeding.
She does not discourage it, but, rather invites readers to examine
parenting practices with a critical lens.
Issue: Is Co-sleeping Safe for Baby? Yes: Wendy Middlemiss, from "Bringing
the Parent Back into Decisions about Nighttime Care," Clinical Lactation
(2013) No: Adrienne LaFrance, from "About that Scary Swaddling Study," The
Atlantic (2016)
Educational psychologist Wendy Middlemiss advocates that health-care
providers discuss options of nighttime care with parents, rather than
providing specific advice that may conflict with parents' beliefs and
preferences. Furthermore, she discusses ways for health-care providers
address infant safety and health that best match each family. However, all
choices may not be equal, argues Adrienne LaFrance. Her article describes a
new meta-analysis that links swaddling with a higher risk of SIDS.
Importantly, LaFrance emphasizes the importance of how research is
interpreting and examines some of the limitations to the meta-analysis. Her
work emphasizes the need for caregivers to engage in thoughtful
decision-making regarding nighttime care.
Unit 3: Early Childhood
Issue: Do Innate Gender Differences Influence How Children Learn? Yes:
Kelley King, Michael Gurian, and Kathy Stevens, from "Gender-Friendly
Schools," Educational Leadership (2010) No: Lise Eliot, from "The Myth of
Pink and Blue Brains," Educational Leadership (2010)
Kelley King, Michael Gurian, and Kathy Stevens, all affiliated with an
institute that advocates for accommodating gender differences in learning,
identify developmental differences between boys and girls that are deep
enough to merit distinct educational practices. Lise Eliot explains how
small gender differences in infancy become magnified through parental
interactions with their children. She argues that teachers, as well, need
to be aware of how they treat boys and girls so they do not exacerbate
gender stereotypes.
Issue: Is Preschool Education Worthwhile? Yes: Hirokazu Yoshikawa, et al.,
from Investing in Our Future: The Evidence Base on Preschool Education,
Society for Research in Child Development and Foundation for Child
Development (2013) No: David J. Armor and Sonia Sousa, from "The Dubious
Promise of Universal Preschool," National Affairs (2014)
Hirokazu Yoshikawa led a team of researchers from the Foundation for Child
Development in an examination of the current research on early childhood
education. They find that scientific research supports the academic,
social, emotional, and economic benefits of preschool. Professors David
Armor and Sonia Sousa, in contrast, point to disappointing results from the
existing federal preschool program Head Start. They do not believe research
overwhelmingly supports the benefits of preschool.
Unit 4: Middle Childhood
Issue: Are Violent Video Games Necessarily Bad for Children? Yes: Craig A.
Anderson, from "Violent Video Games and Other Media Violence (Parts 1 &
2)," Pediatrics for Parents (2010) No: Cheryl K. Olsen, Lawrence Kutner,
and Eugene Beresin, from "Children and Video Games: How Much Do We Know?"
Psychiatric Times (2007)
Psychologist and researcher Craig A. Anderson finds that violent video game
play consistently associates with aggression and problematic behavior,
arguing that there is no good reason for making them available to children.
Cheryl K. Olsen, Lawrence Kutner, and Eugene Beresin have all been
affiliated with a Harvard Medical School center devoted to studying mental
health and the media. In their work they recognize the potential risks of
violent video games, but find that most children play video games in ways
that pose little risk and offer some potential benefit.
Issue: Should We Try to "Cure" Autism? Yes: Ruth Padawer, from "The Kids
Who Beat Autism," The New York Times (2014) No: Aaron Rothstein, from
"Mental Disorder or Neurodiversity?" The New Atlantis: A Journal of
Technology and Society (2012)
Reporter Ruth Padawer describes how applied behavior analysis (A.B.A.) has
seemingly "cured" some children of autism. She profiles these children,
showcasing their individual responses to therapeutic programs. However,
medical student Aaron Rothstein cautions that autism might be considered an
example of neurodiversi ty, rather than a disorder. He describes how and
why many autism advocates argue against the idea of a "cure." Instead, the
focus of research should be on better understanding the complexity of human
behavior.
Unit 5: Adolescence
Issue: Is Working Dangerous for Teens? Yes: Hans Villarica, from "Caution:
Your Child's First Job May Be Hazardous to Her Health," The Atlantic (2011)
No: Laura Bliss, from "The Hidden Epidemic of Teen Hunger," The Atlantic
(2016)
Hans Villarica's article describes how many adolescents are not equipped to
deal with the workplace-specifically, occupational injuries. While past
research has focuses on psychosocial advantages and disadvantages to
adolescent employment, only recently have scientists begun looking at
workplace conditions and on-the-job hazards. This article suggests much
more attention is warranted to keep adolescents safe. However, what happens
when adolescents do not have access to the income and resources they need?
In this article, Laura Bliss describes the complexities of adolescent
hunger. She describes why adolescents are particularly susceptible to
hunger, and the risk behaviors they engage in to combat food insecurity.
Issue: Is There a Sexting Epidemic? Yes: Hanna Rosin, from "Why Kids Sext,"
The Atlantic (2014) No: Kaitlin Lounsbury, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and David
Finkelhor, from "The True Prevalence of 'Sexting'," Crimes Against Children
Research Center (2011)
Sexting has become a top concern among parents of youth and professionals
who work with them. Hanna Rosin looks into one specific adolescent texting
scandal to examine how youth think about sexting. Her article reveals the
range of responses to sexting, and the harm that can result from
well-intentioned adults. On the other hand, when researchers at the Crimes
Against Children Research Center reviewed studies on adolescent sexting,
they painted a very different picture. They found that findings are
inconsistent and many studies have flawed designs. These researchers
believe that the problem of adolescent sexting has been exaggerated by the
media.
Unit 6: Early Adulthood
Issue: Is Greek Life Dangerous for College Students? Yes: R. Sean Bannon,
Matthew W. Brosi, and John D. Foubert, from "Sorority Women's and
Fraternity Men's Rape Myth Acceptance and Bystander Intervention
Attitudes," Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice (2013) No:
Olga Khazan, from "The Bro Whisperer," The Atlantic (2015)
The research of R. Sean Bannon, Matthew W. Brosi, and John D. Foubert finds
that sorority women were more rejecting of rape myths than fraternity men,
and that they were more willing to intervene in potential sexual assault
situations. Taken as a whole, their research does not paint a complimentary
picture of fraternity men. On the other hand, Olga Khazan follows the work
of sociology professor Michael Kimmel who argues the problem is our
definition of masculinity, not Greek life. This article describes Kimmel's
work to change power dynamics around sexual behaviors. Several potential
solutions are explored, all with the focus on reviving the concept of the
gentleman.
Issue: Do Religion and Spirituality Mean the Same Thing to Today's College
Students? Yes: Diane Winston, from "iFaith in the Amen Corner: How Gen Y Is
Rethinking Religion on Campus," Social Science Research Council Essay Forum
on the Religious Engagements of American Undergraduates (2007) No: Chelsi
A. Creech et al., from "Changing Trends in Ritual Attendance and
Spirituality throughout the College Years," Psychology (2013)
Religion scholar Diane Winston describes interacting with students at her
university and finding that the students have vibrant religious engagements
despite eschewing traditional types of religiosity. The study from Chelsi
Creech and colleagues indicates that religion is better understood from a
multidimensional perspective. They found first-year and upper-class
students differed in terms of their religious attendance and reported daily
spiritual experiences.
Issue: Is Facebook Bad for College Students' Health? Yes: Brian A.
Feinstein, et al., from "Negative Social Comparison on Facebook and
Depressive Symptoms: Rumination as a Mechanism," Psychology of Popular
Media Culture (2013) No: Amy L. Gonzales and Jeffrey T. Hancock, from
"Mirror, Mirror on My Facebook Wall: Effects of Exposure to Facebook on
Self-Esteem," Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (2011)
Researchers Brian Feinstein and colleagues explore the link between use of
social networking sites and depressive symptoms. Their study examined
undergraduate students' use of Facebook. They argue that negatively
comparing oneself with others is linked with rumination, which is linked
with depression. The research from Amy Gonzales and Jeffrey Hancock
presents a different view of the impact of social networking sites on
mental health. Their research demonstrates how viewing one's Facebook
profile actually enhances self-esteem through selective self-presentation.
Unit 7: Middle Adulthood
Issue: Do Adults Need to Place More Value on Marriage? Yes: W. Bradford
Wilcox, from Why Marriage Matters: Thirty Conclusions from the Social
Sciences, Institute for American Values (2011) No: Brenda McKerson, from
"Raising the Next Generation: What's Gender Got to Do with It?" Plaza:
Dialogues in Language and Literature (2014)
Sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox led a team of prominent family scholars to
draw conclusions about the contemporary state of marriage as an
institution, and the consequences of being married. They conclude that
although marriage patterns are changing, traditional marriages still
benefit adults and society. Brenda McKerson draws parallels between racial
discrimination in the 1960's and discrimination faced by same-sex couples
today. She argues that research on "nontraditional" couples often reflects
heterosexist norms. Furthermore, McKerson believes that as generations
become more accepting of different family structures, research findings
will change to reflect this acceptance.
Issue: Should Grandparents Have Visitation Rights to Their Grandchildren?
Yes: Lixia Qu et al., from "Grandparenting and the 2006 Family Law
Reforms," Family Matters (2011) No: Rachel Dunifon and Ashish Bajracharya,
from "The Role of Grandparents in the Lives of Youth," Journal of Family
Issues (2012)
Lixia Qu and colleagues review Australian data on grandparent-grandchild
involvement before and after the 2006 legal reforms. They find that that
family law reforms are consistent with parental beliefs about grandparent
involvement. However, they caution that the reforms do not address many
practicalities, including knowledge about the legal system. However, the
research of Rachel Dunifon and Ashish Bajracharya does not find clear
evidence that grandparents influence the well-being of their grandchildren.
They find that distance, the parent's relationship with the grandparent and
child, and age of child and parent all contribute to the quality of the
grandparent-grandchild relationship.
Unit 8: Late Adulthood
Issue: Should Assisted Suicide Be Legal for Everyone? Yes: April Dembosky,
from "Doctors' Secret Language for Assisted Suicide," The Atlantic (2015)
No: Ira Byock, from "Physician-assisted Suicide Is Not Progressive," The
Atlantic (2012)
"Assisted suicide," or euthanasia, has become a more familiar phrase with
sick, aging adults looking for personal control during this last part of
life. April Dembosky argues that because many state laws prohibit
euthanasia, medical professionals cannot converse properly with their
patients about end-of-life decisions. Legalizing assisted suicide across
the nation would allow for better communication, the article posits. Ira
Byock, in contrast, believes that physician-assisted suicide should not be
legal. In this article, he describes the political climate influencing the
euthanasia debate. Furthermore, Byock claims that the focus should be on
improving end-of-life care.
Issue: Should We Try to "Cure" Old Age? Yes: Michael J. Rae et al., from
"The Demographic and Biomedical Case for Late-Life Interventions in Aging,"
Science Translational Medicine (2010) No: Ezekiel J. Emanuel, from "Why I
Hope to Die At 75," The Atlantic (2014)
Michael J. Rae was lead author on an article presenting the position a
group of prominent antiaging scholars. They promote more funding and
support for what they consider promising research directions towards
slowing or even curing aging. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and
bioethicist, presents a contrasting view. He argues against an
ever-expanding lifespan. Instead, he believes this article suggest our
focus should be on maximizing our quality of life and accepting the
inevitability of death.