Learning objectives
At the end, students must have acquired knowledge relating to the main characteristics and stages of emotional, cognitive, physical and social development, to the factors that influence them in a positive or negative sense, to the main theories of psychological development.
The course aims to encourage students to develop some transversal skills, such as the ability to learn, the acquisition of independent judgment with respect to the theoretical and methodological issues addressed and the ability to communicate on the aspects discussed and learned.
Prerequisites
nothing required
Course unit content
Developmental psychology deals with studying the characteristics and stages of the emotional, cognitive, physical and social development of the human being with particular attention to the period from birth to adolescence and investigating the factors that influence these processes.
Attention will be paid to the authors of the main theories of psychological development and to the innovations brought to the topic by new neuroscientific knowledge.
For each topic, correlations will be provided between existing theories and its pratical applications
Full programme
Introduction to developmental psychology. What does it study and why it is studied?
Psychological development theories: what are they for? How to use them?
The new neuroscientific discoveries. Biology and neurobiology: influence of genetics and the environment.
Childhood:
Emotional and affective development.
Cognitive development (Warm cognition)
Physical and motor development
Perceptual development
Language development
Social development / moral development
Adolescence
Bibliography
-Camaioni, L., Di Blasio, P. Psicologia dello sviluppo. Ed. Il Mulino
-Miller, Teorie dello sviluppo Psicologico
-Lucangeli, Vicari, Psicologia dello sviluppo
Chapters of these and other texts fundamental for the final exam will be indicated during the course and uploaded to Elly
Teaching methods
Traditional lessons will be mainly used for the presentation of the theoretical orientations and of the basic concepts of the discipline; the active participation of students with questions and personal reflections is necessary for the success of the lessons. The didactic proposal can be completed with the help of videos and thematic in-depth materials.
If there are needs dictated by health emergencies, the activities will take place in tele-presence through the use of the Teams platform.
In particular, lessons will be held in both synchronous (via Teams) and asynchronous mode (uploaded on the Elly page of the course).
During the lessons in synchronous mode (in the classroom or live online), mainly frontal moments will alternate with interactive moments with the
students
Assessment methods and criteria
The final evaluation of learning will be carried out at the end of the lessons through a written test conducted in person.
The test consists of 5 open questions.
The questions concern the contents of the course (volumes indicated + documents uploaded to Elly during the course).
The answers to the open questions are each worth a maximum of 6 points. The maximum duration of the test is 90 minutes.
The questions will cover the following learning areas:
• Knowledge and understanding of the topics covered during the lessons;
• Autonomy of judgment in particular by formulating interpretative hypotheses and personal reflections on the topics presented in the course;
• Communication skills of the student: the ability to describe and argue the learning will be evaluated;
• Ability to learn, retain and re-elaborate learning, even in a personal way.
The evaluation criteria will be: knowledge of the topic, clarity of presentation, critical reflection, personal contribution.
The return of the assessments takes place via the Esse3 platform, based on the 'with publication of results' method, which allows the student to decide, within 7 days of communicating the outcome, whether to accept the vote or not.
In the event that the health emergency continues, and depending on how it evolves, the exam may take place either in mixed mode (i.e. in the presence, but with the possibility of support even remotely for students who request it from the teacher ), or only online for everyone (remotely). Information will be promptly announced on ESSE3.
Other information
Students are received by appointment (contact via email) in presence at the end of the lessons every Monday from 11.30 to 12.30 or at other times via Teams platform.
