PA141-4-FY-CO:
Perspectives in Child Development

The details
2023/24
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
30
16 March 2022

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BA L520 Childhood Studies,
BA L521 Childhood Studies (Including Year Abroad),
BA L522 Childhood Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA L523 Childhood Studies (Including Foundation Year)

Module description

This module offers an introduction to perspectives in child development and includes an emphasis on therapeutic approaches.

The module proceeds historically, beginning with the advent of developmental conceptions of the mind in the nineteenth century and continuing into contributions of developmental psychology in the 20th and 21st centuries, including psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theories.

Beginning this module, you will consider the theoretical contributions made by some of the key developmental theorists, including Freud, Erickson, Skinner, Piaget, Bronfenbrenner, Vygotsky, Bowlby, and Klein. Following this, you will explore some concepts central to understanding child development, including birth, play, and sociality. The module will conclude with a consideration of the limitations of developmental psychology. To this end, we will read critiques of developmentalism made by scholars in feminist theory, critical race studies, cultural studies, dis/ability studies, and post-colonial studies. The final week of this module considers both developmental theories and critiques of them in terms of potential therapeutic interventions.

You will have the chance to consider, evaluate and debate this range of perspectives which will be fundamental to your learning in other modules in Childhood Studies.

Module aims

The aims of the module are:
1. To explore a variety of theoretical perspectives in child development, and to identify the distinctiveness of each theoretical perspective
2. To gain knowledge of how psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theories are used to understand child development
3. To recognise how areas of developmental psychological understanding have been extended to clinical and therapeutic applications
4. To articulate the shortcomings of developmental perspectives as elaborated by critical perspectives like feminist and post-colonial theory

Module learning outcomes

On completion of the module:

1. Students will gain an understanding of diverse perspectives in child development and be able to identify their foci and implications
2. Students will be able to identify the contributions of psychoanalytic theories (e.g., Freud, Erickson, Bowlby, Klein) to understanding child development
3. Students will be able to critically compare and assess a number of theories and perspectives
4. Students will be able to asses both the contributions and the limitations of developmental perspectives

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

20 x 1 hour lecture 20 x 1 hour discussion seminar

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Essay 1    30% 
Coursework   Essay 2    70% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Norman Gabriel, email: n.r.gabriel@essex.ac.uk.
Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Student Administrator Room 5A.202 telephone 01206 874969 email ppsug@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
Yes
No

External examiner

Prof Heather Montgomery
The Open University
Professor of Anthropology and Childhood
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 40 hours, 40 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies

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