Psychology of social and emotional development in childhood and adolescence

Course objectives

General aims The course provides theoretical and applicative contents related to: biological bases of social development Theories of social development (10 hours) attachment relationships peer relationships empaty,prosocial and moral reasoning emotions regulation and effortfull control gender identity and segregation identity processes in adolescence Vulnerabillty and health risk behaviors in adolescence (30 hours) The course is based on lectures, encouraging active student participation. There will be exercises in small groups aimed at the application of evaluation tools of socio-emotional development and quality of interpersonal relationships into classrooms. ((8 hours) Students who have attendance problems will still have to carry out a practical activity by e-learning. Attendance to the lessons is considered not mandatory. Specific aims. Knowledge and understanding: passing the exam would imply being capable of knowing and understanding social development, determinants and correlates across different ages Applying knowledge and understanding: passing the exam would imply mastering appropriate tools to identify typical and atypical social/emotional profiles Making judgment: passing the exam would imply mastering the ability to make informed judgments and evaluations on determinants and correlates of typical and atypical social/emotional profiles. Communication skills: passing the exam would attest that students master the communication abilities and tools needed for an efficacious scientific communication. Learning skills: passing the exam would attest the acquisition of skills conducive to further learning related to psychological test and programs in the field of social and emotional development. During the traditional lessons such abilities would be transmitted by emphasizing different perspective

Channel 1
STEFANIA SETTE Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The contents regard children's and adolescents' emotional and social development, focusing on children's and adolescents' social relationships in the family or school contexts. The 48 hours will be divided into two parts. In the first part (around 6 weeks - 24 hours), we will focus the attention on: the main theories on social and emotional development; the emotional development; the behavioral genetic; the temperament; the first interactional phases; the attachment; the knowledge of self and other (e.g., self-esteem, empathy). In the last weeks (around 24 hours), we will focus on family, parents, and socialization; from other-control to self-control (e.g., prosociality, aggression, moral development, social withdrawal); peer relationships (e.g., acceptance and rejection, friendship); age differences; gender differences. Each topic will be deepened by reading scientific articles and/or using psychological instruments.
Prerequisites
It is useful to have discrete skills to understand and critically read scientific articles. It is also useful to have skills for collaborating in a group.
Books
1.Schaffer, H.R. (1998). Lo Sviluppo Sociale. Milano: Cortina (chapters 1, 2 only the paragraph basi dell'individualità, 3, 4 only the paragraph il sé, 5, 6 only the paragraph comportamento prosociale e antisociale, 7 only the paragraph le relazioni con i coetanei); 2.Procacci, M. & Sette, S. (2024). Da soli per forza. Il ritiro sociale in adolescenza. Carocci. 3. Additional materials that will be available on the moodle page at https://elearning.uniroma1.it/. Please email stefania.sette@uniroma1.it to receive the password. Additional materials will be also for students that will not attend the course.
Teaching mode
The course consists of lectures and practical exercitations (e.g., optional group activities). Students can attend in presence and/or distance (the link will be shared by the teacher) The frequency is not mandatory.
Frequency
The frequency is not mandatory. To receive further information, students can send an email to the teacher.
Exam mode
The exam includes 16 multiple-choice questions and 3 open questions. The exam has a duration of 1 hour. The multiple-choice questions are aimed at investigating the knowledge of all arguments. In contrast, the two open questions aim to critically investigate students' ability to discuss an argument and intervention programs/research articles. Each multiple-choice includes three alternatives (each correct response is evaluated with a score of 1). Incorrect answers will not be penalized. Each of the three open questions is evaluated with a maximum mark of 5 scores. The final score will be the sum of the scores of the two written parts (multiple-choices, total of 16, and open questions, total of 15, with a maximum score of 31). Students who can attend the course will also work in an additional group activity (i.e., scientific article), which will be assessed with a maximum of three additional scores added to the final score. More information on this activity will be available on the moodle page. The activity is not mandatory. To pass the examination, the total score should be 18/30.
Lesson mode
The course consists of lectures to understand the different theories and practical activities in a group (e.g., reading scientific articles, use of instruments, and case reports, role-playing). For instance, during the course, students will also read scientific articles in small groups, use instruments, case discussions. The course will also emphasize small-group work on reading scientific articles, compiling assessment tools and reports, analyzing case studies, preparing oral presentations, and reporting on the work completed, with possible peer review. There will also be ongoing self-assessment tests, which will not count toward the final grade. These tests include multiple-choice or open-ended questions, for which the instructor will provide feedback throughout the course (approximately 13 hours).
  • Lesson code1055873
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CoursePsychology of typical and atypical development
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year1st year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDM-PSI/04
  • CFU6