Course Outline

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION

Sections:

What is Child Psychology?

Psychology As a Science

Research Methods

Underlying Debates in Child Psychology  - nature nurture and personality

UNIT 2: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE FAMILY

Sections:

Child's sense of self and personality

Attachment

Privation, deprivation, institutionalisation

Parenting styles and effects on child development

UNIT 3: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Sections:

Social interaction, learning and play

Gender development (social and cognitive theories)

Moral development (social and cognitive theories)

Pro- and anti-social behaviour

UNIT 4: COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Sections:

Development of sensory perception

Language development and acquisition

Cognitive development

Measured intelligence

There is continuity between the units, and when, for example, the same psychologist is mentioned in different sections and/or units, you will be reminded. This will help you to learn each topic at a time, and to build up a more complete overview of child psychology. The first time a key psychologist is mentioned, a short biographical sketch is included to help you see the psychologist's theories in their historical and cultural context.

Psychology is a social science which means it studies people in a more holistic way than a physical science, such as biology does. 'A' level psychology courses (which are also level 3) have been recently modified to focus more on psychology being a science. As with current 'A' level courses, the scientific nature of psychology is introduced in Unit 1, and forms an integral part of all other units.