Introduction to Developmental Psychology
The concept and main factors of development
Basic overview of research strategies, methods and designs focused on human development
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Dear students,
welcome to the Developmental Psychology course. Requirements for completion and basic information about the course can be found in the attached presentation. We hope that the Interactive syllabus will make it easier for you to study in this difficult semester. This syllabus will be continously supplemented. We wish us all good health.
Introduction to Developmental Psychology
The concept and main factors of development
Basic overview of research strategies, methods and designs focused on human development
Each lecture will contain a reading chapter. To get the most from the text we recommend to follow this script.
1) Answer the "Questions before Reading"
Answering these questions will help you to prepare for the content of the text, reflect on your expectations of the text, and place the read information into the overall context.
2) Read the text
Each week there will be approximatelly 15 pages of compulsory reading. Sometimes the texts will be longer. In these cases the text will be divided into "compulsory" and "optional" sections. However for those who take their preparation for future profession seriously we recommend to read both parts.:)
3) Answer the "Questions after Reading"
Answering these questions will help you determine if you have mastered the key knowledge that will be required in the final test.
NOTES: In some cases we would add some extra comments to the text. These comments will be highlighted under "NOTES" section
The most important parts that will be vital for your future studying and practice are highlighted.
We also recommend to make notes during the reading and revise them few days later.
Source:
Compulsory reading: pp. 2-5, 9-16, 27-30,
Optional reading: pp. 6-8, 17-26, 31-39
Questions before Reading:
What was your motivation for enrolling in the course?
What are your expectations from the course?
What questions do you want to be answered during the course?
Questions after Reading:
What ss development?
What causes us to develop?
What are the basic characteristics of development?
Considering the historical perspective how could contemporary western societies be described?
What is reliability and validity?
What are the common methodsused in developmental psychology research?
What is cross-sectional design?
What is longitudinal design?
NOTES: Table 1.1: A chronological Overview f Human Development is correct and usefull, however for our purposes we will be using slightly different periodization - see Picture 1 at the end of this chapter.
Describe core characteristics of development
Describe basic periodization of human development
Describe basics of Erikson´s theory of psychosocial development
Source:
Compulsory reading: pp.30-32
Questions before Reading:
Can you name some of universal principles of development?
Is there a difference between growth and development?
Questions after Reading:
What is the difference between growth and development?
What are the basic principles of development?
Source:
Compulsory reading: pp.30-32
Questions before Reading:
Can you name some of universal principles of development?
Is there a difference between growth and development?
Questions after Reading:
What is the difference between growth and development?
What are the basic principles of development?
To learn basic information about physical development, reflexes, learning, cogntive fuctions (language, memory, sensation, perception), personality, sexuality and gender in infancy and toddlerhood
To learn basic information about parenting in infancy and toddlerhood
Source:
Compulsory reading: pp. 31-33, 35, 40,41, 43, 47-51
Questions before Reading:
How do infants and toddlers learn?
What are the main developmental changes in this period?
Questions after Reading:
Cen you describe main infant reflexes blinking, Babinksi, Grasping, Sucking, Moro etc.)?
Can you describe main fomrs of learning in infancy and toddlerhood (classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning) ?
Do you know the main motor milestones - when child starts to roll over,sit without assistance, stand alone/walk?
Do you know basic information about cognitive abilities in infancy and toddlerhood (when do lon- term memory is formed,basic terms from language development)?
What are the personality characteristics of child in infancy and toddlerhood?
Describe basics of Attachment theory
Describe basics of Psychosocail deprivation
Describe basics of Erikson´s theory of psychosocial development
Dear students,
bellow are basic information about Attachment. You can find some more information in chapter Seminars.
Questions before Reading:
How does the early bond with an adult (attachment) affects child´s future?
Are there any patterns of attachment linked to differences in children´s socio-emotional development and adjustment?
Questions after Reading:
Can you name main authors of attachment theories (Evolutionary Theory of attachment, Monkey studies, Imprinting theory, Strange Situation Test)?
What is the difference between Learning/behaviorist theory of attachment and Evolutionary theory of attachment?
Can you name and describe stages of human attachment?
Can you name and describe four attachment patterns?
parent loss, addiction, promiscuity, poor social situation (e.g. refugee), "overemployment" of parents, etc.
emotional immaturity, character immaturity, serious psychopathology, deprivation in parent´s childhood…
Child manifests itself with maldaptive behavior in the area of the unsatisfacted need (attempts to attract attention, intrusiveness) or in general behavior (total restlessness, hyperactvity); commonly deprived needs are emotional and social, so the behavior is mostly targeted to fulfill these needs. On the other hand interst in school work is on decline; these children are noticeable with both bad behavior and worse school performance (that does not match intelligence).
manifested particularly by aggressiveness, opposition, destructive tendencies, explosions of anger, cruelty, increased nutritional needs…;
„manifestations of primitive affects uncontrolled by anxiety and conscience.“
a group of symptoms of regressive nature (sucking finger, enuresis and encopresis, automatisms, anorexia); children are detached, reserved in attempts for contact, introverted, sometimes "strikingly nice and kind"; children seem silent and obedient, sometimes even frightened, infantile, indifferent to success and failure, without initiative, may even appear retarded in more severe cases
In the context of a poorly stimulating environment, children try to seek the maximum supply of social incentives and to attract attention; but they do not know the stability of contact, emotional attachment, social interest is rather chaotically dispersed, communication and social behavior remain at a lower level.
The need for attention and contact is manifested in a disturbing or violent manner towards educators, or aggression towards other children (as competitors); children may appear defiant, "uncontrollable", but in individual contact with educator they may act as "exchanged" – kind and affectionate. Later, they tend to get to unbearable life situations.
Source:
Nelson III, C. A., Zeanah, C. H., & Fox, N. A.
(2019). How early experience Shapes Human Development: The case of Psychosocial
Deprivation. hindawi:Neural Plasticity, stránky 1-12.
Compulsory reading: pp. 1,2,5,6,8
Questions before Reading:
How would you describe psychosocial deprivation?
In what areas psychosocial deprivation negatively affects human development and future life?
Questions after Reading:
What is critical and sensitive period?
What are the consequences of psychosocial deprivation on psychological health?
What are the consequences of psychosocial deprivation on neural development?
What are the consequences of psychosocial deprivation on socio-emotional behvaior?
Source:
Questions before Reading:
How do human develop throughout their lifespan?
Questions after Reading
Are you able to describe at least first five stages of psychosocial development?
In what aspects Eriksonś theory differs from Freud´s theory?
To describe overall physical growht during early childhood
To briefly describe sexual development in early childhood
To briefly describe main changes and phenomenons in cognitive development
To briefly describe language development
To briefly describe main changes in psychosocial development
To point out to important changes in gross and fine motor
Textbook can be found on: https://www.canyons.edu/_resources/documents/academics/faculty/nwalker/Psychology172Textbook.pdf
Compulsory reading: pp. 72, 74-81, 88
Questions before Reading:
Questions after Reading:
Can you describe Erikson´s third psychosocial task?
Can you describe Piaget´s preoperational stage?
What is Theory of Mind?
What have you learned about development of self-concept in preschool age?
What changes happens in physical development during early childhood?
What development happens in language?
To describe physical growth durng middle childhood
To describe Piaget´s concept of concrete operational intelligence
To describe language development
To briefly describe Information processing theory
To describe main specifics of psychosocial development in middle childhood
To describe main family tasks
Compulsory reading: pp. 90-95, 106-109
Questions after Reading:
Can you describe main aspect of concrete operational thought (classification, reversibility, reciprocity)?
Can you name three levels of memory according to Information processing theory?
Are you able to describe main changes in language development?
Can you namefive family tasks according to Berger (2005)?
To learn basics about Piaget´s theory of cognitive development
To learn basics about Kohlberg´s theory of moral development
Questions before reading:
What causes the differences in the thinking of children and adults?
On what trajectories do cognitive function develop?
Questions after Reading:
Can you describe all 4 stages of cognitive development?
Can you describe basic terms of Piaget´s theory (schema, adapation process,, equilibrium, accomodation, assimilation)?
Piaget´s theory was a turning point in the upbringing and education of children and adolescents and is still relevant, so we recommend not to be satisfied with just the basics, but to get more information about it - for example, at the link below
Retrieved from: http://www.polsci.tu.ac.th/lawrence.pdf
Compulsory reading: 1-8, 12, 13, 16-18
Questions after Reading:
Can you describe all 6 stages of cognitive development?
Do you know what Heinz´s dilemma is?
Kohlberg´s theory was groundbraking, so we recommend not to be satisfied with just the basics, but to get more information about it - for example, at the link below:
Summarize the overall physical growth
Describe the changes that occur during the puberty
Describe the changes in brain maturation
Describe the changes the changes in sleep
Describe characteristics of emotional, social and cognitive development
Describe changes in self-concept
Describe development of identity
Source:
Textbook can be found on: http://dept.clcillinois.edu/psy/LifespanDevelopment.pdf
Compulsory reading: pp. 215-218, 220-221, 227-229, 233 - 235, 237-240
Questions before Reading:
What developmental changes are typical for adolescence?
What are the most important developmental tasks that are specific for adolescence?
Questions after Reading:
What physical changes occur during the puberty?
Can you describe Erikson´s fifth psychosocial task?
Can you describe Marcia´s four identity statuses?
Summarize the overall physical growth
To explain personality in adulthood (special focus on Five-factor model)
To explain attachment in young adulthood
To describe the factors that influence parenting
Textbook can be found on: http://dept.clcillinois.edu/psy/LifespanDevelopment.pdf
Compulsory reading: pp. 3,4,7,9,15,24,28,35-39,41-42,57-59
Questions before Reading:
Questions after Reading:
Are you able to describe the concept of emerging adulthood (author, key features, age span, etc.) ?
What are the markers of becoming an adult in western society?
What are the specific changes in cognitive development?
Are you able to describe Five-Factor Model of personality?
Dear students,
in previous topics we have described basic aspects of cognitive development, indentity and social development and also development of relations. Other very important aspect of mental development is emotional development.
In chapter bellow, you can find three texts describing this aspect of human development.
Source:
Denham, S., von Salich, M., Olthof, T., Kochanoff, A., & Caverly, S. (2002). Emotional and Social Development in Childhood. In Blackwell Handbook of Childhood Social Development: (Wiley Blackwell Handbooks of Developmental Psychology) (1 vyd., s. 307-323). Blackwell Publishers.
Downloaded from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313753923_Emotional_and_social_development_in_childhood
Source:
Saarni C. Emotional Development in Childhood. In: Tremblay RE, Boivin M, Peters RDeV, eds. Lewis M, topic ed. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development [online]. https://www.child-encyclopedia.com/emotions/according-experts/emotional-development-childhood. Published September 2011. Accessed March 19, 2021.
This article is particularly valuable for the Table 1 (Noteworthy Markers of Emotional Development Ratio to Social Interaction) and for the Table 2 that lists skills of emotional competence
Source:
Thompson, R. A. (2001). Infancy and Childhood: Emotional Development, 7382-7387. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-043076-7/01707-1
Downloaded from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291069180_Infancy_and_Childhood_Emotional_Development
Basic description of developmental disabilities
Basic description of main developmental perspectives on disabilities (mechanistic, organismic, contextualist)
Basic description of developmental disability in family context
Source:
Compulsory reading: pp.514,516,517. 527
Questions before Reading:
How would you define developmental disability?
In what ways can developmental disability affect the development?
In what ways can developmental disability influence family quality of life and family functioning?
Do you know any ways how to support and work with the family of your student with developmental disability?
Questions after Reading:
How would you define developmental diability?
What is difference between current classification of mental retardation and classification used in 1970´s - early 1990´s ?
What are the differences between mechanistic, organismic and contextualist perspectives on disabilities
Go through this chapter in Interactive syllabus, watch the movies, make notes, prepare questions.
The Strange situation is a standardized procedure devised by Mary Ainsworth in the 1970s to observe attachment security in children within the context of caregiver relationships. It applies to infants between the age of nine and 18 months.
The procedure involves series of eight episodes lasting approximately 3 minutes each, whereby a mother, child and stranger are introduced, separated and reunited.
8 sequences: