Psychology Lecture: Make-Believe As Part of Child Development

April 20, 2006

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MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University’s psychology department will feature “Make-Believe Play: Wellspring for Development of Self Regulation,” by Laura Berk, Distinguished Professor at Illinois State University, at 3 p.m. Friday, April 28 in Waggoner Hall 054.

Berk’s research interests include the development and significance of self-directed speech among normally achieving children versus children with serious learning problems. She also studies the implications of make-believe play for young children’s development. In both areas she draws heavily on the sociocultural theory of Soviet developmental psychologist Lev Vygotsky.

She argues that community programs that promote collaborative make-believe play can contribute greatly to a child’s development. Burk also states that the self-regulatory mastery that comes from make-believe provides a foundation for reasoning, problem solving, imagination and creativity in addition to social and emotional competencies.

This lecture, open free to the public, is part of Western’s psychology department’s spring 2006 lecture series. For more information, including future topics and dates, contact the psychology department at 309/298-1593.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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