Nov 22, 2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25

PSY 3420 - Psychology of Adulthood and Aging


Behavioral change and continuity over adult years through old age. Emphasis on interaction of psychological, sociocultural, and biological variables as they contribute to behaviors of aging individual from perspective of developmental framework.

Requisites: 6 Hours in PSY including 101D or 1010 (2410 is recommended) and WARNING: No credit for both this course and the following (always deduct credit for first course taken): CFS 2720
Credit Hours: 3
OHIO BRICKS: Bridge: Diversity and Practice
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Course Transferability: TAG course: OSS047 Adult and Aging
College Credit Plus: Level 1
Learning Outcomes:
  • Students will be able to apply developmental psychology principles to daily life throughout adulthood and articulate their personal insights on the cultural rules and biases that may/may not contribute to developmental trajectories.
  • Students will be able to analyze theories, research methodology and findings (outcomes), and applications demonstrating the complexity of individual differences related to aging from a cross-cultural perspective.
  • Students will be able to analyze the biological, cognitive, cultural, environmental and social factors that influence development throughout adulthood.
  • Students will be able to describe methodological approaches used to study development.
  • Students will be able to criticize current and past research in adulthood guided by theories within developmental psychology.
  • Students will be able to interpret, recognize, and support the intercultural differences that act as causal mechanisms that help explain the variation of social and cultural differences in the aging population.
  • Students will be able to ask complex questions and evaluate cultural perspectives associated with myths and misconceptions regarding human development and aging.
  • Students will be able to initiate and develop interactions with culturally different others while suspending judgment in valuing his/her interactions with culturally different others in regards to course topics on adulthood and aging.
  • Students will be able to interpret intercultural experiences about aging from their own and others’ worldviews and act in a supportive manner that recognizes the feelings of elders..
  • Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of cultural differences in verbal and nonverbal communication and to negotiate a shared understanding based on those differences in adulthood and aging.


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