300082 Interdisciplinary life course research. The sociology of life course, life span psychologies and behavioral genetics (S) (SoSe 2010)

Human development entails on-going exchanges between person and context. Context refers to the social embedding of individuals and often calls for the study of longitudinal, historical, and spatial variations. Consequently the fully informed study of biographical patterns encompasses longitudinal views of both life events, psychic development, and biological processes. Indeed, the integration of life course sociology and genetic models of behavior represents an emerging and highly promising area of study that seeks to highlight these person-context exchanges. New avenues of research have opened, and the future offers exciting promise for understanding how dynamic views of context and the person—including biological dimensions—interact to influence achievements, physical and psychological well-being, and social involvements. The dramatic growth of longitudinal studies over the last three decades is now enriched by a growing readiness to include genetic information.
The seminar introduces into the various streams of life course research in sociology, psychology, and genetics in order to make evident where there are competing claims and where the various disciplines complement each other.

Requirements for participation, required level

Participants are encouraged to present and discuss in English. However, you may switch between English and German if necessary. I would be pleased if as many students as possible will have the heart to try it out.

Bibliography

Diewald, M./Mayer, K. U., 2009: The Sociology of the Life Course and Life Span Psychology. Integrated Paradigm or Complementing Pathways?, in: Advances in Life Course Research 14, 5–14.
Freese, J. (2008). Genetics and the social science explanation of individual outcomes. American Journal of Sociology, 114, 1-35.
Mayer, K. U. & Diewald, M. (2007). Die Institutionalisierung von Lebensverläufen. In: J. Brandtstädter & U. Lindenberger (Hrsg.), Entwicklungspsychologie der Lebensspanne. Ein Lehrbuch (pp. 510-539). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
Shanahan, M. J., Hofer, S. M. & Shanahan. L. (2003). Biological models of behavior and the life course. In: J. T. Mortimer, M. J. Shanahan (Eds.), Handbook of the life course (pp. 597-622). New York et al.: Kluwer Academic