Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PSY1623

 
TITLE Developmental Psychology 2

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT Psychology

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit builds on Developmental Psychology 1 and continues the journey in human development from adolescence to late adulthood. It provides a general understanding of the current theoretical issues and research findings in developmental psychology within a lifespan, biopsychosocial perspective. It gives students a broad understanding of the psychology of adolescence and adulthood development and ageing. Themes underlying the study-unit will be: research strategies for use with adolescents, adults and older adults; theoretical issues in adolescent and adulthood development; current debates and topics in adolescent and adulthood development.

Tentative Study-unit Outline:

Part 1: Adolescence

Theoretical and research issues in the study of adolescence; physical and sexual development, adolescent sexuality and pregnancy, health issues and risky behaviour; cognitive and moral development, schooling and achievement; developmental changes in self concept and the quest for self-definition, relationships with parents and process towards independence, relationships with peers and peer pressure, personality development; the impact of family system and broader social context on adolescent development.

Part 2: Adulthood Development and Ageing

Studying adulthood development and ageing: assumptions and background, issues in, and principles, of adult development, a biopsychosocial approach to adult development and ageing, research issues in the study of adulthood development; physical development and health in adulthood; cognitive development: theories of cognitive functioning in adulthood, changes in cognitive functioning; work and leisure; socio-emotional development in adulthood: relationships, personality development, mental health; death, dying and bereavement.

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

• Describe theories of human development across the lifecycle;
• Identify the main developmental tasks of the periods of the lifespan;
• Discuss the specific areas of development, most notably biological, socio-emotonal and cognitive development;
• Discuss the influence of social contexts on human development.

Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

• Integrate material covered in the study unit;
• Employ the concepts discussed in the study unit to different phases of human development;
• Critically engage with the theoretical constructs presented in the unit;
• Judge the reliability and validity of the research presented in the unit.

Required Texts:

- Santrock, J (2012) Adolescence (14th Ed) USA: McGraw Hill.
- Whitebourne S. (2011) Adulthood development and Ageing (4th Ed) USA: John Wiley Inc.

Reading List:
- Stuart-Hamilton, I (2012). The Psychology of Ageing: An Introduction(5th Ed) London: Jessica Kingsley.

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE PSY1622

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES This study-unit is only offered to students with Psychology as an area of study.

Please note that the pre-requisites for this study-unit are not required for non-BPsy students.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Multiple Choice Questions Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Paul A. Bartolo
Edward Curmi
Georgina Debattista
Mary Rose Gauci

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit