From conception on, a genetic suggestion in the DNA for an adult human interacts with a complex environment that continuously modifies the original blueprint. In the best of circumstances the growing organism get what it needs and suffers no adverse influences, in which case the person will develop to fullfil their genetic endowment and will have the emotionally most satisfying life possible.
The class will examine these needed conditions, and what happens when they are not met, as well the kinds of negative impacts and their consequences. We will employ useful abstractions known as developmental stages to help us gestalt what in reality is a many stranded unfolding according to multiple timelines and that interact with each other. And to make thing even more interesting, what happens today can retroactively influence what happened in the past.
Since all psychological pathology is caused by the trauma of unmet needs and adverse experiences, knowing the many different pathways that development can take is essential for understanding our patients. We will use as many theoretical perspectives as are out there, because each one gives us new names for things so we can more clearly see them.