Undergraduate - UnitATS2260 - Developmental psychology: Behaviour across the lifespan

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Offered	Berwick Second semester 2014 (Day) Gippsland Second semester 2014 (Day) Gippsland Second semester 2014 (Off-campus)
Coordinator(s)	Dr George Van Doorn

Synopsis

Developmental psychology examines the lifespan perspective on human development across three domains: physical, social and cognitive. This unit acknowledges the importance of culture and the sociohistorical context. Areas of interest include prenatal and gender role development, and aging. Methods of gathering and evaluating evidence relevant to developmental phenomena will be examined and attachment and language acquisition will be discussed.

Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of a range of developmental theories and how they can be applied to humans;
Display an appreciation of predictable life events and crises which may occur across the lifespan;
Critically evaluate various cultural and social differences that contribute to adult development;
Discuss major theoretical perspectives that attempt to explain successful aging;
Evaluate the role of research and theory in the advancement of knowledge within the field of developmental psychology.

Assessment

Weekly questions (1200 words): 25%,
Short-answer assignment (1300 words): 35%,
Examination (2 hours): 40%.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr George Van Doorn

Workload requirements

2 hours (1 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 1 hour tutorial) per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Psychological studies

Prerequisites

12 credit points at first year level, six points of which must come from either ATS1359, ATS1362, ATS1840 or an equivalent unit.

Prohibitions

PSS1712, BHS1340, ATS1262, GSC1307, GSC1712, PSY2031, WEL1340, PSY1011, PSY1022, ATS1360.