Developmental Psychology

Aims and objectives

Developmental Psychology aims to understand the processes involved in psychological growth and change with age. The focus is on social, emotional, cognitive and language development during the early periods of life from infancy and childhood through to adolescence.

Teaching methods

A two hour Lecture, and a one hour Laboratory Session each week.

Assessment

Critical review 15%, Research Report 35%, Examination 50%

Generic skills outcomes

Experimental and survey methodology, training in systematic observations, testing and observing psychological functioning, data analysis, research project writing skills.

Content

Topics include: biological foundations of the person, prenatal influences on development, the birth process, and children's earliest behaviour, examination of interactions between children and their caregivers and the development of their perceptual, social and emotional abilities, development of cognitive and language skills, and their powerful influence on all aspects of children's behaviour, development of personality and gender identity and the role played by the family, school, the media and peers in the socialisation of children. Throughout the course, the focus is on theoretical approaches to child development, with a thematic approach as opposed to a chronological approach.