B000294 - DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Italian

Theoretical foundations of developmental psychology from a life-cycle perspective, with reference to the main psychological processes underlying cognitive, emotional-affective, and social development. Particular attention will be given to the applied implications of interest to social workers, with insights into specific topics such as family relationships.

AA.VV. (2021). Elementi di psicologia dello sviluppo per Servizio Sociale (selezione di argomenti creata dal docente appositamente per questo corso con il servizio Create). McGraw Hill. ISBN: 9781307740431.
Aritcles:
1) Marengo, D., Settanni, M., Longobardi, C., & Fabris, M. A. The Representation of Bullying in Italian Primary School Children: A Mixed-Method Study Comparing Drawing and Interview Data and their Association with Self-Report Involvement in Bullying Events. Frontiers in Psychology, 5542.
2) Pinto, G., & Bombi, A. S. (2008). Children’s drawing of friendship and family relationships in different cultures. Children’s understanding and production of pictures, drawings and art, 121-154.
3) Pinto, G., Tosi, F., & Incognito, O. (2021). Drawing places, recreating spaces: visual voices from at-risk children. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 8(1), 1-7.

Lecture handouts made available by the professor on the Moodle platform.

Knowledge and Ability to Understand: the course aims to provide a knowledge base on: (a) theoretical foundations of developmental psychology from a life-cycle perspective; (b) stages of the life cycle from infancy to old age; (c) psychological processes and mechanisms that regulate cognitive, emotional-affective, and social development; (d) ability to recognize risk factors, protective factors, needs, and resources concerning individuals in different life ages and social groups, with special reference to the area of family relationships, prosocial and antisocial behaviors, and promotion of well-being; and (e) use of assessment tools.

Applied knowledge and comprehension skills: the course aims to provide the skills necessary for social workers to grasp the psychological needs and resources of individuals in different life ages and social groups in order to outline pathways for prevention, assessment or intervention.

Autonomy of judgment: promotion of critical reflection beyond the notional knowledge of the topics covered.

Communication skills: promotion of technical language to communicate clearly with specialist and nonspecialist interlocutors.

Ability to learn: stimulating interest in the discipline and autonomous study.

Knowledge and ability to understand: face-to-face lectures, with possible seminars conducted in collaboration with other professionals.

Applied knowledge and understanding skills: proposed exercises, individual or group, aimed at applying theoretical knowledge to case studies, hypothetical scenarios or real contexts.

Autonomy of judgment: seminar activities and group discussion of specific topics.

Communication skills: use of correct, specific and topic-relevant vocabulary.

Ability to learn: tasks carried out independently

Oral examination.

Main issues addressed by developmental psychology from a life-cycle perspective.
Main elements of traditional and more recent ecological theories. Brain and physical development, with attention to motor, sensory and perceptual development. The various models for explaining interactions between hereditary factors and the environment. Cognitive, emotional-affective and social developmental processes. Insights into adaptive and maladaptive psychological processes of particular interest to a social worker capable of grasping the needs and resources of individuals in different life ages and social groups: family and family relationships, moral development and the development of prosocial and antisocial behavior, positive psychology (well-being, stress and coping strategies).