Developmental psychology is the study of development in human beings at different stages of life from conception till death. It refers to how people grow, adapt and change over the course of their lifetime physically, socially, cognitively, emotionally, morally and through language and personality development. Development of an individual also depends on heredity and environmental factors. Human development follows certain patterns and the sequence of development may be predicted but there are differences from individual to individual in the manner and the nature of development as every individual is unique.The main objectives of this course are to enable the learners to understand the concept of human development, its relevant theories and themes with due emphasis on research designs in the field. This course will help the learners to understand the facets of the different stages of life from prenatal to adulthood along with the associated domains of development in order to inculcate sensitivity to socio-cultural contexts starting from the family, peers, schools and media. This course will also analyse the process of development in the prevailing different socio-cultural context of India.After successful completion of this course, learners will be able to explain the concept of human development judiciously and critically analyse the theories of Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development, Frued’s Psycho-sexual Theory, Vygotsky’s Socio-cultural Theory, Erickson’s Psycho-social Theory, Kohlberg’s Moral Development, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory and apply them in their day today life. The learners will also be able to develop appropriate methodology and design concerning research on human development. The learners will be able to recognise individual differences as a consequence of heredity and environment and the role of family, peers, school and media particularly in the Indian context. The learners are expected to identify factors that lead to a person’s behaviour and personality.
Overview
Syllabus
WEEK 1
1
Concept of Human Development: Meaning, perspectives, processes
2
Lifespan perspective
3
PART I- Psychoanalytic perspective: Freud’s psychosexual theory
4
PART I- Psychodynamic perspective: Erikson’s psychosocial theory
WEEK 2
5
Behavioural perspective: Classical conditioning
6
Behavioural perspective: Operant conditioning
7
Cognitive perspective: Piaget’s cognitive development theory
8
Cognitive perspective: Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory
WEEK 3
9
Cognitive perspective: Information processing
10
Social cognitive perspective: Bandura’s social cognitive theory
11
Bioecological perspective: Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory
12
Constructive learning
WEEK 4
13
Humanistic Perspective: Abraham Maslow’s need hierarchy theory
14
Humanistic Perspective: Carl Rogers’ Humanistic Development Theory
15
Evolutionary Perspective
16
Ethological Perspective: Konrad Lorenz's Imprinting Theory
WEEK 5
17
PART I- Ethological Perspective: John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory
18
Themes of Human Development
19
Research Designs: Correlational, Experimental, modified experimental
20
Prenatal period
WEEK 6
21
Childbirth and postpartum period
22
Infancy
23
Babyhood
WEEK 7
24
Early Childhood
25
Middle and Late Childhood
26
Puberty
WEEK 8
27
Adolescence
28
Early Adulthood
29
Middle Adulthood
WEEK 9
30
Late Adulthood
31
End of Life
32
Physical and perceptual development
WEEK 10
33
Cognitive development
34
Language development
35
Emotional development
WEEK 11
36
Moral and social development
37
Development of intelligence
38
Development of personality
WEEK 12
39
Gender Development and Stereotyping
40
Development of self - I
41
Psychology of Individual differences
WEEK 13
42
AbnormalBehaviour - I
43
Family: family as a social system, socialization within the family
Family Parent-Youth Conflict-1
Family-Sibling Relationship And Intergenerational Relationship-1
44
Family: cultural influences, lifestyles, andvulnerable families
WEEK 14
45
Peers: Importance of Peer Relations, and Development of peer sociability
46
Media and Development
47
Growing up in scheduled caste and tribe families
WEEK 15
48
Growing up in urban and rural environment
49
Growing up as girls
50
Creating an effective learning environment
Taught by
Dr. Koijam Sobita Devi
