Learning objectives
The course is aimed at increasing students' knowledge concerning the most debated and complex theories of developmental psychology. Moreover, at the end of the course students will have developed competences in applying knowledge to the various psychological contexts, and will be able to recognize symptoms and expressions of disorders in childhood and adolescence.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
The course is focused on the analysis of the links between human biological processes, social interactions and cultural systems, giving meanings to the practices in educational contexts. In order for the students to achieve the objective of the course, it is necessary that they have previously acquired the basic knowledge of developmental psychology.
In the first part of the lessons, the teacher will present and discuss several perspectives of developmental psychology (focused on the individual, on the social, on the culture), considered as intertwined. These perspectives will be applied to the understanding of several issues, as the psychological growth in deprived contexts and the influence of television and new media. Furthermore, classroom interactions and peer cultures will be analyzed within a socio-cultural approach.
In the second part of the course, developmental psychological disorders will be presented and discussed. The most recent classification of disorders (DSM IV) will be explained, and a particular attention will be devoted to the discussion about clinical symptoms and possible interventions.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Varin, D. (2005). Ecologia dello sviluppo e individualità. Milano, Cortina.
Molinari, L. (2010). Alunni e insegnanti. Costruire culture a scuola. Bologna, Il Mulino
Verrastro, V. (2006). Strategie e interventi in psicologia clinica dello sviluppo. Milano, Franco Angeli.
Teaching methods
For most of the lessons, the teacher will conduct the activity by explaining with the support of slides.
However, there will be many occasions in which students will be engaged in laboratories and practical activities concerning analysis of single cases. recognition of problems or disorders, definition of possible lines of intervention.
Assessment methods and criteria
The students who follow the course will have the opportunity to take the exam through multiple tasks during the course itself. For the students who do not follow the lessons, the exam will consist in a written task. In both cases, tasks will evaluate their knowledge and their skills in applying knowledge to the various psychological contexts.
Other information
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