PSI0238 - DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY I (I-Z)

courses

ID:

PSI0238

Duration (hours):

64

CFU:

SSD:

PSICOLOGIA DELLO SVILUPPO E PSICOLOGIA DELL'EDUCAZIONE

Located in:

CHIETI

Url:

Course Details:

PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES/CORSO GENERICO Year: 2

Year:

2025

Course Catalogue:

https://unich.coursecatalogue.cineca.it/af/2025?co...

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (29/09/2025 - 30/12/2025)

Course Objectives

The course is delivered in person and combines different teaching approaches that align with the expected learning outcomes. The main methods include:

Classroom lectures, aimed at presenting theoretical frameworks and key concepts, and providing a structured overview of the course content;

Seminars with invited speakers, offering in-depth exploration of specific topics and opportunities to engage with professionals and researchers;
Viewing of illustrative videos or films

Course Prerequisites

While no strict prerequisites are required, students should possess basic knowledge and skills appropriate to the course level, including prior exposure to the main themes and approaches of the discipline.
Critical thinking, the ability to synthesize information, and a general confidence in reading and discussing academic materials will be beneficial for fully engaging with the course content.

Teaching Methods

Assessment Methods

The exam consists of an oral colloquium designed to assess the student’s knowledge acquisition, conceptual understanding, language proficiency, and ability to interpret and analyze course content.
Assessment is based on a 0–30 grading scale (with the possibility of honors). A score between 18 and 23 reflects a sufficient level of learning; between 24 and 28, a good level; and between 29 and 30, an excellent level. Honors (“cum laude”) may be awarded in cases of exceptional analytical and critical reasoning skills demonstrated during the exam.

Texts

John W. Santrock (2021). Psicologia dello sviluppo. McGraw-Hill Education. Capitoli: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12.
In addition, three reference texts to be studied in their entirety:
D'Amico, Devescovi (2013). Comunicazione e linguaggio nei bambini. Carocci Editore.
Baumgartner (2024). Il gioco dei bambini. Carocci Editore.
Simonelli, Calvo (2016) L’attaccamento teoria e metodi di valutazione. Carocci

The course addresses some of the key theoretical and empirical issues within developmental psychology, providing an overview of the major milestones and processes involved in human development. It aims to illustrate and analyze the principal stages of prenatal, perceptual, motor, emotional, and linguistic development, as well as the development of play and symbolic abilities.
In addition to examining the main domains of development, the course will explore how genetic and environmental factors interact to shape individual trajectories, and will encourage students to develop a critical and reflective understanding of the mechanisms underlying early competences and their impact on later development.
A component of the course will be devoted to research methods in developmental psychology, with particular attention to the techniques and experimental paradigms currently used to investigate developmental processes across infancy and childhood. Through lectures, discussions, and the analysis of illustrative videos and case studies, students will gain the conceptual and methodological tools needed to interpret developmental phenomena in a scientifically informed way.
By the end of the course, students will have acquired both a solid knowledge of the main stages and mechanisms of human development and an appreciation of the research methods that make such knowledge possible.

Course Language

Italian

More information

Office hours are held weekly, either in person, by appointment. Students are invited to check the instructor’s institutional webpage for updated office hours and contact details.
For any questions, students can contact the instructor at: m.zuccarini@unich.it