Psycology and Health

The course aims to provide the student with knowledge regarding theoretical, methodological and applicative aspects of developmental psychology. The course aims to promote the understanding of the mechanisms that underpin psychological development and the acquisition of the technical-scientific lexicon of this discipline. The descriptive frameworks of the major areas of development will be illustrated: motor, perceptual, cognitive, linguistic, emotional, affective, and social development. The particular methodological tools that characterise the field of developmental psychology will be examined Knowledge and understanding At the end of the course the student should: a) have a basic knowledge and understanding of developmental and learning processes in the different psychological domains (motor, perceptual, cognitive, communicative-linguistic, emotional, socio-relational) from neonatal life to adolescence; b) have a basic knowledge and understanding of the main theories explaining these processes; c) have a basic knowledge and understanding of factors which can promote or hinder individual developmental trajectories; d) have a basic knowledge and understanding of the observational methods used to study infancy and to collect data in developmental research. Applying knowledge and understanding At the end of the course the student should be able to: a) interpret child behaviour (the behaviour of a given child in a given context) in the light of the acquired knowledge; b) understand and analyse the scientific literature on the topics discussed in the course; c) use some techniques for observing interaction; d) assess validity and reliability of observational data. Making judgements The course aims to provide the student with the necessary knowledge in order to reflect in a critical and competent way on the phases, processes and causes of development. Communication skills The course aims to provide the student with the ability to describe, with appropriate scientific language, the main phases of typical development within the different psychological domains (motor, perceptual, cognitive, communicative-linguistic, emotional, socio-relational) from neonatal life to adolescence. Learning skills At the end of the course the student should be able to find and use bibliographic and sitographic tools in order to constantly update and deepen professional knowledge and skills.