Bodies Changing: Adolescent Psychology and Reproductive Health

Who are the people in adolescence? What are the worlds in which they live? How do they prepare for their future? How do their social identities shape their choices, opportunities, and reproductive lives?

In this program, students and faculty will take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding adolescent development, reproductive health, and reproductive politics. We will use the lenses of psychology, public health, and reproductive justice to explore how development varies across individuals, as well as across populations with different, intersectional racial, economic, cultural, and dis/ability backgrounds. We will also consider the perceptions of adolescence and adolescents.

Our study of psychology will explore physical, cognitive, and social development during adolescence (ages 12-18), and emerging adulthood (ages 18-25). Using a lifespan perspective, we will consider the stability and change (gains and losses) across these domains. We will also consider the changes in autonomy, exploring how we become independent from our parents and caregivers; the development of our sense of self; and the ways our peers and friends influence us.

This program will also offer an overview of human reproduction, using a public health approach to examine the impacts that social, racial, political, and economic realities have on our bodies over our lifetimes. We’ll pay specific attention to gender and race as vectors of power, and the ways in which contraception, abortion, forced sterilization, and other forms of reproductive control both reflect, and have been used to perpetuate, systemic racism.

Students who are successful in this program will gain a foundation in reproductive physiology. Our examination of the biology of reproduction will include lab work in microscopy and dissections. This program will lead students through entry-level work in the Psychology, Health, and Community Path of Study. Any students interested in psychology, health, or science (and more!) are welcome to join us.

Credit will be awarded in adolescent psychology, public health, reproductive health and politics, and other areas. If you intend to ask for credit in something else, please talk with faculty at the beginning of the quarter.

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies (14 credits)

4 - Psychology of Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood

4 - Reproductive health and politics

3 - Social science research methods

3 - Public health & social health determinants