Introduction to Developmental Psychology

The course provides an introduction to human development during childhood and adolescence. It covers central aspects of psychological development, such as perception and cognition, communication and language, emotional development, and social development. The course places particular emphasis on theory, methodology, and empirical research within developmental psychology.

Knowledge

• The student has broad knowledge of the core, theoretical perspectives within the field of developmental psychology, and how these perspectives differ.
• The student is familiar with what research shows regarding how children function; cognitively, emotionally and socially.
• The student is familiar with the core methods used in psychological research involving children and adolescents.

Skills

• The student can outline the core themes of developmental psychology.
• The student can apply the central concepts used in developmental psychology and critically discuss the core theoretical perspectives.

General competence

• The student has developed an understanding of the relationship between theoretical perspectives regarding development and empirical knowledge about childhood development.
• The student has developed an understanding of how a child’s individual development takes place within a social and cultural context.

Lectures 2 hours per week, study group.