Developmental Psychology

Description

Content: The module is taught in two sections. The cognitive development section begins with Piaget's approach to development from infancy to middle childhood, then goes on to consider more recent experimental work and complementary/alternative perspectives. The cognitive development sections involves about 12 hours of lectures. The second section explores processes of socio-emotional development and factors influencing these. This section involves about 8 hours of lectures.  Teaching delivery: This module is taught via 20 hours of in-person lectures over 10 teaching weeks. Indicative Topics: Indicative topics – based on module content in 2024/25, subject to possible changes (note that individual topics in each section may vary in length): Cognitive development - Infant perception, Can babies think, Language development, Thinking in the pre-school and early school years, Early number skills, Concepts and categorisation. Socio-emotional development -  Theories of social development, Biological influences on social development, Attachment, Family and parenting, Non-parental childcare and development, Emotions and emotion regulation, Theory of Mind. Module Aims:  To provide an overview of research on cognition and socio-emotional functioning in children, covering developmental issues, the neurocognitive systems involved, the historical background and individual differences. Students should become familiar with major aspects of infant and child cognitive and socio-emotional development, with Piaget’s theory and with newer theoretical approaches.