Lifespan psychology
Full course description
Development can be regarded as the changes in the brain and behaviour that occur in response to adjustments by a child to their physical and social environment. The central theme is how and why certain psychological processes develop. Is it mainly the result of the maturing of the brain (nature) or environmental factors (nurture), or both? During the course, we will look at the processes that play a role in the biological and psychological change from conception to old age. You will specifically look at perceptual, cognitive, language, and motor development, i.e., how children learn to observe, think, and act in the world. This will include the discussion of several developmental theories, including the Piagetian and information-processing developmental theories. The social and emotional development of the child will be discussed as well, including the role of attachment to parents/caretakers. The effect of group processes will primarily be discussed in relation to adolescent development. Maturation and development will not always go according to plan, and psychopathologies can arise. Therefore, the course will also deal with non-neurotypical behaviour. Common clinical pathologies including ADHD and depression and their underlying neurobiology will be introduced together with conventional psychological and pharmacological therapies and novel treatment options like psychedelics and mindfulness meditation.
There is no assessment for this module. You will only receive feedback on completed assignments.
Course objectives
- reproduce the stages of pre- and postnatal brain development, and understand concepts relevant in the context of growing and the biological development of the central nervous system
- summarize the processes and (age-related) changes relevant to developmental psychology and explain relevant developmental theories
- explain how perception, cognition, language emotions, and social skills develop over time
- understand, analyze, and evaluate research and research methods published in the field of developmental and clinical psychology
- explain the DSM-5 classification, have knowledge about RDoC (Research Domain Criteria) framework
- distinguish and explain the prevalence, clinical picture, and diagnostic criteria for several frequent psychological disorders
- describe and discuss theories and research on the etiology (e.g., cognitive biases, learning processes, neurotransmitters, and genetic factors) of these psychological disorders
- describe/explain customary therapies (e.g., cognitive and behavioural therapy, schema-focused therapy, and psychopharmacology) and their effectiveness for these psychological disorders