Course Contents

1. Concepts and methods in Developmental Psychology a. Nature of human development • Determinants of human development • Principles of human development b. Field of developmental psychology c. Research methods in developmental psychology • Longitudinal method • Cross-sectional method • Experimental method 2. Prenatal development a. How life begins • Hereditary transmission • Determining the extent of genetic influence b. Prenatal environmental influence • Age of mother • Drugs • Radiation • Maternal diseases and disorders • Rh Factor • Maternal emotional state 3. Infancy a. Stages of infancy b. Physical development • Body growth • Locomotion development c. Language development • Vocalization and speech development • Environment and language • Relation of babbling to later mental development d. Cognitive development • Piaget’s view of intellectual development 4. Middle childhood a. Physical development b. Cognitive development c. Personality development d. Social development 5. Adolescence a. Biological changes b. Social changes c. Ego identity 6. Adulthood a. Social adjustment b. Personal adjustment c. Vocational adjustment d. Family adjustment 7. Old age a. Physical changes in old age b. Social changes in old age

Course Synopsis

Course Objectives: • To emphasize the continuity of development through the life span. • To highlight the interrelationship among physical, cognitive and psycho-social realms of development. • To investigate theoretical and research related concerns.

Course Learning Outcomes

The course would enable the students to • Deal with others in an effective way that could promote their physical, cognitive and psycho-social development. • Understand the interaction between different aspects of development.