What is the nature of psychological disorders that develop during childhood and adolescence, and how are these experienced by young people in Scandinavia? In this course, we will review the neurobiological and psychological features associated with the development and maintenance of disorders such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorders by situating them within a broader sociocultural framework.
For example, how do parental leave policies and parental stress impact prenatal and infant development? How does a modern welfare state address early detection and early intervention for developmental disorders, and how are the needs of youth with developmental disorders met – or not met – in the Swedish educational system? We will also review contemporary issues and controversies in the field, such as the discourse around neurodiversity/neurotypicality vs. a strictly medical model of illness and treatment.
Core Course Week, which includes a two-day seminar in Stockholm and a short Study Tour in Greater Sweden, allows students to apply classroom theories in a real-world context. How are developmental disorders approached from a clinical, educational, and social-policy perspective in Sweden? What are some research questions and methods currently under exploration in Swedish research labs that focus on the developing brain? Academic visits on tour will, for example, include meetings with psychological consultants, researchers, and nonprofit organizations. The Study Tour program will also be supplemented with cultural visits and events and community-building activities, such as touring castles, museum visits, and experiencing traditional Swedish food at local restaurants.
Learning outcomes
Critically evaluate the role of social and contextual features, including barriers and opportunities for inclusion, in the development and maintenance of developmental psychopathology
Understand strategies for prevention and early intervention of developmental psychopathology in a Scandinavian welfare state
Connect with those impacted by developmental psychopathology to learn about their lives and how they are or are not aided by the Swedish health system
Engage in personal learning and growth outside the classroom by actively participating and challenging your current ideas and assumptions about developmental psychopathology
Possible activities
Meet professionals who work with people with developmental disorders to understand clinical applications
Meet with researchers at the cutting-edge of research on developmental psychopathology in Sweden
Meet with NGOs that support families with children with special needs
Long Study Tour
About this tour
While on Study Tour, explore developmental psychopathology in real life, focusing on the role of cultural similarities and differences in the conceptualization, prevention, and treatment of what is and what is not considered “illness.” What does illness look like in different cultures? This includes individual differences, family structures, environmental factors, education, and work and careers. What does illness look like in a different part of the world, and does a psychological perspective of developmental psychopathology apply universally?
0We will visit organizations and institutions involved in prevention and early intervention to speak with experts as well as with individuals who are impacted in some way by developmental psychopathology. In Madrid, you will learn how events, both of this century (i.e. the 2008 financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic) and the previous one (i.e. Spain’s transition to democracy in the 20th century), have shaped public health strategies and conceptualizations of illness. Students will compare the experiences of developmental psychopathology in a Southern European country such as Spain with that of experiences in Scandinavia and their own experiences and observations from their home countries.
Learning outcomes
Critically examine conceptualizations of developmental psychopathology from a multicultural perspective and consider cross-cultural similarities and differences in conceptualizations of illness vs. wellness
Apply psychological theories and concepts from class to new cultural experiences
Explore opportunities and barriers to supporting people impacted by developmental psychopathology across different cultural contexts
Possible activities
Tour a psychology lab at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, one of the oldest universities in the world
Visit an early care service for children with developmental psychopathology to learn about procedures for assessment and early intervention in Madrid
Visit world-class museums such as the Reina Sofia and the Prado to explore artwork relevant to the course and consider conceptualizations of illness/wellness
Meet with an educational consultant to learn about their personal and professional experiences with schooling for children with autism spectrum disorders in Spain
Faculty
Monica Siqueiros Sanchez
Monica obtained her PhD in Medical Science, from Karolinska Institutet (KI; Sweden). A clinical psychologist by training, she became interested in neurodevelopmental disorders during her clinical practice. She then went on to do her MSc in Developmental Psychopathology at Durham University, followed by her PhD at KI where she combined eye tracking and twin modelling to investigate the relative contribution of genes and environment to autistic and ADHD traits, oculomotor behavior, and the association between them. She recently completed her postdoctoral training at Stanford University where she used a combination of neuroimaging modalities and psychological assessments to characterize the effects of rare genetic variation on brain morphology to better understand psychiatric disorders. Her interests include socio-communicative skills, attention, neurogenetic syndromes, neurodevelopmental disorders, and white matter. With DIS since 2023.
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