PSYC 221 - Child Psychology

3 Credit: (3 lecture, 0 lab, 0 clinical) 3 Contact Hours: [PSYC 120 ]

1. Identify themes of research within child development.
2. Describe research methodologies within the field of child development.
3. Articulate the differences between experimental and correlational findings.
4. Recognize major milestones and developmental risks of prenatal development.
5. Recognize processes and complications related to birth.
6. Describe characteristics of and best practices for neonates and early infant development.

Goal 2:  Demonstrate an understanding of early brain development, cognitive development, learning, and language development.

1. Articulate the interactions between early experiences and infant brain development.
2. Describe the perspectives of Piaget, information processing, core knowledge theories, and sociocultural theories as related to cognitive development.
3. Recognize major motor development milestones.
4. Explain how the processes of operant and classical conditioning influence behavior modification.
5. Articulate normative patterns and components of language development.

Goal 3:  Demonstrate an understanding of intelligence research and measurement, social development, factors related to child abuse and maltreatment, and peer relationships.

1. Describe theories of intelligence, primary intelligence assessment methods, and factors that impact intelligence.
2. Recognize components of Erikson’s and Bronfenbrenner’s theory of development.
3. Explain the relationship between early social interactions and the development of social competence.
4. Recognize different types of abuse and maltreatment.
5. Articulate normative patterns of peer relationships and changes in those as children develop.

Goal 4:  Demonstrate an understanding of emotional developmental processes, attachment, the development of self, and moral development.

1. Describe how early interactions impact infant expression and regulation of emotion.
2. Articulate methodological approaches to understanding infant temperament.
3. Describe how infant traits interact with early environment to shape emotional development.
4. Articulate how early adult interactions aid or hinder children’s ability to manage stress.
5. Describe types of attachment, why those types develop, and long-term impact of attachment.
6. Explain factors that influence the development of moral thought and prosocial behaviors.

Goal 5:  Demonstrate and understanding of moral development, the impact of family factors upon development, and the influence of gender upon development.

1. Explain factors that influence the development of aggressive and antisocial behaviors.
2. Describe historical changes in family composition and the subsequent impact on child development.
3. Describe the interactions between different aspects of the family system.
4. Articulate issues related to child care and the impact of child care upon development.
5. Recognize normative and non-normative gender development patterns.
6. Articulate research findings related to gender differences and the impact of gender upon development.

Goal 6:  Apply concepts related to child psychology to real life.

1. Explain and apply factors related to the interaction between inborn traits and environment and how they shape individual development.
2. Explain and apply factors related to attachment and early emotional development and how they shape long term relationship approaches in individuals.