Developmental Psychology

Course Description:
This course is designed to facilitate the learners to understand the general field of psychology in its
initial stages and development as a science of human behavior. The life span approach with reference
to major developmental theories is followed to facilitate understanding of the concepts of
developmental psychology. The course is further aimed to enhance learners’ interpersonal skills and
understanding of human behavior in order to enable them in providing care to clients with specific age
groups.
Course Objectives:
1. Describe basic concepts of Psychology.
2. Demonstrate application of the learnt concepts in practicing nursing.
3. Explain developmental Psychology and factors influencing human psychosocial development.
4. Discuss human development through the life span with reference to psychological, social and
cognitive perspective.
Teaching/Learning Strategies:
Interactive lectures, small group presentations and group discussions, scenario building.

UNIT OBJECTIVES
Unit I: Introduction to Psychology
This unit helps to orient learners to the field of Psychology, and its significance to nursing profession.
At the end of this unit learners will be able to:
1. Define Psychology.
2. Identify different perspectives in Psychology.
3. Identify various fields of Psychology
4. Demonstrate understanding and its practical applications to Nursing.
Unit II: Introduction to Developmental Psychology
This unit provides ground work for understanding developmental span from conception through
infancy, childhood, adolescence and adult hood ultimately ending with death. It will also orient learners
to Freud, Erickson and Piaget's view points on development.
At the end of this unit learners will be able to:
1. Define Developmental Psychology.
2. Identify various stages of development.
3. Describe theories of development (Freud, Erickson, Piaget)
4. Describe interaction between heredity and environment.
Unit III: Infancy (0-2 years)
This unit outlines personality development during infancy.
At the end of this unit the learners will be acquainted with;
1. Growth and motor development.
2. Cognitive development (learning and memory)
3. Piaget’s sensorimotor stage.
4. Freud’s interpretation and parent – child relationships.
5. Erickson’s stage of Psycho Social Development trust and autonomy.
Unit IV: Pre-School Child (2-5 years)
This unit describes the development of social behavior in child hood, effect of psycho-sexual
development on behavior and personality; identifies the concepts presented in Piagets' theory of
cognitive development.
At the end of this unit the learners will be acquainted with:
1. Cognitive Development.
a. Piaget’s pre-operational thought stage.
b. Language development.
c. Play.
2. Personality Development:
a. Erikson’s Stage of Psycho Social Development initiative vs guilt stage.
b. Influence and peers in personality development.
3. Stage of psychosexual - development.
Unit V: School Child (5-12 years)
This unit outlines cognitive and personality development of a school going child; discusses inter
personal relationships with people other than primary care givers.
At the end of this unit the learners will be acquainted with:
1. Cognitive development.
2. Personality Development.
i. Relationships with significant others and peers.
ii. Types of parenting
iii. Stage of Psychosexual development.
Unit VI: Adolescence
This unit describes major areas of personality and social development in adolescence.
At the end of this unit learners will be acquainted with:
1. Impact of physical maturity.
2. Impact of sexual maturity.
3. Erickson’s identity vs role confusion stage.
4. Interpersonal relationships with parents and peer group.
5. Problems of Adolescence.
6. Piaget’s stage of cognitive development
Unit VII: Adulthood
This unit identifies and describes the major milestones of adult personality and social development.
At the end of this unit the learners will be acquainted with:
1. Early and middle adulthood.
2. Interpersonal relationships (work and family).
3. Erickson’s intimacy vs isolation stage.
4. Mid-life crises and life satisfaction.
Unit VIII: Old Age
This unit outlines the physical and psychological stages of aging.
At the end of this unit the learners will be acquainted with:
1. Physical changes in old age.
2. Erickson’s Generetivity vs. self absorption and integrity vs. self-despair stages.
3. Quality of life and old age.
4. Emotional and social changes in old age.
Unit IX: Emotions
This unit outlines the concept of emotion; describes the physiological characteristics of emotions.
At the end of this unit learners will be acquainted with:
1. Arousal and emotion.
2. Expression and emotion.
3. General reactions to being in an emotional state.
4. Aggression as an emotional reaction.
5. Cultural expression of emotions.
Unit X: Memory.
This unit defines and describes memory and its types.
At the end of this unit the learners will able to
1. Define memory
2. Define and describe various types of Memories
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the processes of forgetting from long term memory
Unit XI: Learning
This unit defines and describes the Principle of Learning and its application to daily life
At the end of this unit the learners will be able to
1. Define Learning
2. Define and describe classical conditioning
3. Define and describe operant conditioning.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of application of conditioning in daily life
Unit XII: Intelligence:
This unit defines and describes the concept of Intelligence and its significance in daily life.
At the end this unit the learners will be able to:
1. Define Intelligence.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of the measurement of intelligence
3. Describe the characteristics of tests
4. Identify various measurements scales.

Unit XIII: Motivation:

This unit defines and describes concept of motivation and its application to daily life.
At the end of this unit the learners will be able to:
1. Describe theories of motivation.
2. Application of motivation principles to personal and professional life.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of application of motivation principles to achievement and failure.
 Course Schedule

Date Topic Faculty

Unit I: Introduction to Psychology Adil Shahzad

Unit II: Introduction to Developmental Adil Shahzad

Psychology

Class Assessment Test 1

Unit III: Infancy (0-2 years) Adil Shahzad

Unit IV: Pre-School Child (2-5 years) Adil Shahzad

Class Assessment Test 2

Unit V: School Child (5-12 years) Adil Shahzad

Unit VI: Adolescence Adil Shahzad

Class Assessment Test 3
Unit VII: Adulthood Adil Shahzad
Unit VIII: Old Age Adil Shahzad
Class Assessment Test 4
Midterm Exam
Unit IX: Emotions Adil Shahzad
Unit X: Memory. Adil Shahzad
Class Assessment Test 5
Unit XI: Learning Adil Shahzad
Unit XII: Intelligence: Adil Shahzad
Unit XIII: Motivation: Adil Shahzad
Class Assessment Test 6

References:
1. Berry, J(2002)Developmental Psychology and You. Published by
Blackwell, U.K ISBN.063123389
2. Laura, B (2005).Child Development, (7thed.). Pearson International
3. Laura, B(2003).Development Through The Life Span, (3rd ed.)., Amazon
series.
4. Papalia, E. D. (2001). Human development. New York : McGraw-hill.
5. Robert, K(2006) Children and Their Development (4th ed.). Pearson
International
6. Slater, A(2003).An Introduction to Developmental Psychology. Amazon
series.
7. Sternberg, R. (2001). Psychology: In the search of human mind. Harcourt
college Publishers.
8. Williams, C. (2004). Theories of development, concepts and application (5th
ed.). Edinburgh Gate, Harlow, Essex CM20 2JE: Pearson Education
9. Wade, C. (2003). Psychology. New jersey: Pearson education
Weiten, W. (2001). Psychology themes & variations. USA : Wadsworth
Publishers.