206 Theories of Development IV Adolescence – 2 seminars

Seminar Leader: Dr. H. Weir

Course Description

This course in 2 seminars is to understand adolescent development and its importance and relevance to adult psychoanalytic practice. The seminar explores and contrasts different psychoanalytic theoretical models to understand this development. How adolescents change over time and the factors that influence that change is also explored.

Course Objectives

  1. To learn the normal human developmental milestones of early, middle and late adolescence (1.1).
  2. Learn the neuroanatomical changes that occur during adolescence and how these influence cognition and behavior; (1.1) psychological significance of biological development.
  3. Explore the developmental tasks of adolescence, comparing and contrasting these in different cultures and societies as well as the impact of race and socio-economic factors which includes the contextual and systemic factors that facilitate or impair human functioning (1.1).
  4. Explore the influence of gender bias and expectations in the consideration of adolescent development and how this has created difficulties for both male and female adolescents (1.1) i.e. psychological significance of sexual, and gender development.
  5. Explore and understand changing family and parental relationships in relation to adolescent development i.e. systemic factors in the family that facilitate or impair human functioning (1.1).

Seminar 1

Adolescent Development: General

Required Readings

Gilmore, K.J. & Meersand, P. (2014). Early and mid-adolescence. In Normal Child and Adolescent Development, A Psychodynamic Primer (pp. 203-241). Washington, DC & London: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Stortelder, F. & Ploegmakers-Burg, M. (2010). Adolescence and the reorganization of infant development: A neuro-psychoanalytic model. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry, 38(3), 503-531.

Seminar 2

Late Adolescence and the Transition to Adulthood

Required Readings

Gilmore, K.J. & Meersand, P. (2014). Late Adolescence. In Normal Child and Adolescent Development, A Psychodynamic Primer (pp. 249-277). Washington, DC and London: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Jordan, Judith. (1993). The relational self: Implications for adolescent development. Adolescent Psychiatry,19, 228-239.

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