Theoretical and methodological fundament knowledge on contemporary development psychology, with particular reference to the psychological processes that regulate the main areas of individual development along the life span. The focus will be on both the typical and atypical development, which can lead to developmental pathways at psychopathological risk.
Barone, L. (2009). Manuale di psicologia dello sviluppo. Roma: Carocci Editore.
Simonelli, A., & Calvo, V. (2012). L’attaccamento: teoria e metodi di valutazione. Roma: Carocci Editore
Maggiolini, A. (2017). Psicopatologia del ciclo di vita. Milano: Franco Angeli. (cap. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16)
Learning Objectives
The course aims to providing: a) the fundamental knowledge of theoretical and methodological aspects of contemporary research on developmental psychology; b) the basic notions on the psychological processes and mechanisms that regulate the main areas of individual development along the life span; c) the main risk and protection factors involved in typical and atypical developmental trajectories.
The course provides students with the basic skills necessary to detect the main stages of psychological development in the life span.
Moreover, the course provides the necessary knowledge to facilitate the learning of a typical technical language, pertinent to the subject of study, in order to be able to communicate with specialists and non-specialists.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Lectures, group discussions on course’s issues, on video material or case histories.
Type of Assessment
Written test consisting in two parts. The first one with questions with multiple choices and the second one with open answers. The vote will consist of the sum obtained by the two parts.
Course program
The course explores the methodological and theoretical aspects of developmental psychology from a life span perspective. In particular: research methods in developmental psychology with particular reference to the experimental and observational method, physical and cerebral, perceptive and motor, cognitive, linguistic, memory, emotional-relational, social and moral development. Particular attention is paid to attachment theory, the assessment methods and the implications for the personal development.
In addition to the typical development trajectories, it is depth the atypical development trajectories, highlighting the multifactoriality of developmental disorders, the role of parental skills in the risk development trajectories, the risk factors and protection in the following disorders: attachment disorders, disorders in the regulation of physiological functions, disorders of thought, internalized and externalized disorders, eating disorders, substance addiction and pathological gambling disorders, specific developmental disorders.