03079 - Psychology of Development

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course students will be able to: - have a frame of developmental psychology with attention to psychical disorder; - analyze the forms of psychical disorder.   

Course contents

The stages of individual development are covered following the naturalness of time and the studies of the major authors who have dedicated their work to this topic. Starting from birth, so from early childhood, with the seminal studies of Piaget, and reaching up to adolescence, lays the groundwork for an understanding of human being, pointing out in particular the development of cognitive, linguistic, emotional and relational aspects. Attention is focused on adolescence, central hub of the entire existence. From it are presented the main lines of the steps that will be projected to adulthood with a view to the development, as an unavoidable comparison with psychical disorder.

 

Readings/Bibliography

1) L. Camaioni, P. Di Blasio, Psicologia dello sviluppo, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2007.

2) M. Sapin, D. Spini, E. Widmer, I percorsi di vita. Dall'adolescenza alla vecchiaia, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2010.

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Assessment methods

The final exam is aimed to assess the achievement of the following learning objectives:

1. Knowing the main theories of developmental psychology.

2. Knowing the different stages of psychological development.

3. Knowing the essential elements of cognitive, linguistic, emotional and relational development.

4. Knowing the different stages of development, from birth through childhood, in his seminal flow towards adolescence, considering it as basic element for the analysis of the forms of psychical disorder.

5. Knowing child and adolescent psychological development as essential basis for further steps in the life of a human being.

The exam consists on a written test based on the whole bibliography; there is also an oral part immediately after that. If students do not intend to do the written test, they can do just the oral part.

Office hours

See the website of Santino Cambria