Course

Unit 1

Conception through Birth

Key concepts in developmental psychology. Stages and issues in human development. Prenatal development: stages, risk factors, and complications. Childbirth: stages, types, and psychological implications. Genetic and environmental influences on prenatal development. Use apps or Google Forms to track prenatal milestones and digitally visualise foetal development.

Unit 2

Infancy to Late Childhood

Infancy and babyhood: developmental milestones, attachment, and adjustment. Early and late childhood: cognitive, emotional, and moral development. Environmental influences, parenting, and risk factors. Normal vs. atypical developmental patterns. Interactive simulations to illustrate attachment styles and milestone development. Visualisation of growth curves in Excel or Canva.

Unit 3

Puberty and Adolescence

Puberty: physiological changes and their psychosocial impacts. Adolescence: identity 

development, autonomy, peer relationships. Cognitive and emotional development, moral reasoning. Behavioural risks, mental health concerns, and resilience. Online quizzes and self-assessment tools for adolescents’ cognitive and emotional development stages. Group mapping exercises using Miro or Jamboard.

Unit 4

Adulthood and Middle Age

Early adulthood: vocational, marital, and social adjustments. Middle age: physical, emotional, and social transformations. Family roles, career development, parenting, and life transitions. Midlife crisis, mental health, and coping mechanisms. Case study simulations for adult developmental challenges. Visualisation of adult life transitions using Canva timelines or infographics.

Unit 5

Old Age

Characteristics and challenges of ageing. Cognitive decline, motor function, and emotional regulation. Retirement, loss, and changes in living arrangements. Developmental tasks and mental health in late adulthood. Normal vs. pathological ageing. Use apps and online tools for cognitive assessment simulations and tracking elderly care interventions. Visual mapping of ageing trajectories in PowerPoint or Excel.

Text Books / References

Textbooks

1. Hurlock, E. B. (1980). Developmental psychology. Tata McGraw-Hill.
2. Santrock, J. W. (1999). Life-span development. McGraw-Hill.
3. Papalia, D. E., & Olds, S. W. (1994). Child development. Tata McGraw-Hill. 
4. Berk, L. E. (2013). Development through the lifespan (6th ed.). Pearson.
5. Siegler, R., DeLoache, J., Eisenberg, N., & Saffran, J. (2017). How children develop (5th ed.). Worth Publishers.

Suggested Readings

1. Shaffer, D. R., & Kipp, K. (2013). Developmental psychology: Childhood and adolescence (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
2. Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2016). Human development: A life-span view (7th ed.). Cengage Learning.
3. Feldman, R. S. (2016). Development across the life span (8th ed.). Pearson.

Developmental Psychology examines human growth and development throughout the entire lifespan, from conception to old age. This course offers students a thorough understanding of the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical changes individuals experiences at key developmental stages. Students will explore major theories, research methods, and fundamental findings related to human development. The course also includes an overview of both normal and atypical development, emphasising how individual and societal factors can influence growth. A balance is maintained between theoretical perspectives and practical applications, equipping students to recognise and support development in various contexts.

Course Objectives

• To study the stages of human development from conception through late adulthood.
• To understand the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes that occur throughout the human lifespan.
• To examine and apply major developmental theories to real-life developmental phenomena.
• To explore the interaction of genetic, environmental, and cultural factors in shaping development.
• To evaluate normative and atypical patterns of development and life transitions.
• To use beginner-level digital tools for tracking, visualizing, and simulating developmental processes.

Course Outcomes

• CO1: Demonstrate an understanding of the major developmental stages and key changes at each stage.
• CO2: Apply developmental theories to analyse human behaviour across the lifespan.
• CO3: Evaluate the biological, psychological, and environmental factors influencing development.
• CO4: Understand the impact of life transitions, ageing, and pathological changes on individual development.
• CO5: Integrate theoretical and practical knowledge of development to address issues in health, education, and social policy.

CO-PO Mapping