Aims: To discuss a range of advanced topics in normal and abnormal development, in order to illuminate the processes underlying children’s development....

Topics in Developmental Psychology (PSYC0026)

Aims: To discuss a range of advanced topics in normal and abnormal development, in order to illuminate the processes underlying children’s development. Objectives: Students should learn about diverse cognitive, social and biological determinants of development and how the contribution of such factors depends on the domain of development. Students should know about recent theoretical approaches to child cognitive and social development and should come to appreciate the conceptual link between views of the adult mind (the end state of development) and theories of how we develop towards this end state. Summary of module: The first section considers typical cognitive development, in particular the development of “higher” reasoning skills and the development of memory. The second section explores a variety of topics in typical and atypical socio-emotional development. There is a focus on the role of the care-giving environment, the importance of both nature and nurture, and longitudinal approaches to studying psychological development.

Normative theory|democracy and authoritarianism|protest and resistance

Many people believe that citizens, and especially citizens in democratic states, have a duty to accept the authority of the law and to support and comply with...

Authority, Democracy and Resistance (POLS0032)

This year-long module introduces students to the scientific study of human language, with special emphasis on sentence structure. This is a compulsory module...

Introduction To Generative Grammar (PLIN0004)

This module examines the cognitive, neurobiological, social and developmental literature broadly, and in the context of learning. Theories of cognitive...

Cognitive Development and Learning (PHDE0028)

This module examines the cognitive, neurobiological, social and developmental literature broadly, and in the context of learning. Theories of cognitive development are explained and compared in terms of their contribution to the field of education. Detailed coverage of the central nervous system, hormonal influences on cognition, perception, motor cognition and sleep physiology provide a solid understanding of the neuro-cognitive factors which can affect learning. The developmental literature in typical and atypical populations is discussed to understand individual variation in learning abilities (e.g. problem solving, non-verbal skills, numeracy). Lifespan development is examined in terms of bilingualism and related cognitive constructs.