Child Psychology and Development

1. Psychology - Meaning, Nature and Scope
introduction. Defining Psychology. Analysis of Definitions. Behavior : Meaning and Nature. Nature of Psychology. Psychology as a Science . Scope of Psychology. Psychometrics. Organizational or managerial psychology. Summary. References and suggested readings


2. Child psychology - meaning, nature and scope
Child psychology: Meaning and definition. Child Development and child psychology. Nature of child psychology. The scope of child psychology. The uses and applications of child psychology on the part of stakeholders. Future of child psychology in terms of its expansion and utilization. Summary. References and suggested readings

3. Child Development - Concept, Principles, Factors and need of its study
Introduction. What is child Development?. Growth and Development: Meaning and Distrinction. The field of Operation or Scope of Child Development. Stages of Growth and Development. Various Areas or dimension of growth and development. General principles of growth and development. Factors influencing growth and development of children. Internal factors. External factors. Development is a result of interactions between internal (Personal) and external (Environmental) factors. Significance and importance of the knowledge about child development to the stakeholders. Summary. References and suggested readings

4. Methods and designs of studying children
Introduction. The type of methods and techniques used for studying children. Experimental method. Features and characteristics of experimental method. Experimental Designs or techniques. The control test method. Control-group method. Rotation method. Limitations of experimental method. Naturalistic observation method. What is the naturalistic observation method?. The styles and ways of observation. How to make use of the observation method? Merits of observation method. Limitations and defects of observation method. Conclusion. Normative Survey or field survey method. Use of Questionnaires in survey. Types of surveys using questionnaires. Use of interview technique. Formats of the interview. Structured and standardized interview. Unstructured and non-standardised interview. Interview as an instrument in survey. Preparation for the interview. Taking and interview. Closure of the interview. Merits and demerits of interview. Case study method. Purposes or objectives of the case study method. Subjects of the case study. How to make use of the case study method. Case study of a problem adolescent. Remedial work and suggestions. Conclusion. Reflective journals about children. Structure of reflective journal. How to proceed for reflective writing. Maintaining anecdotal records. How to write and anecdotal record. Taking help from the narratives. How to carry out the task in a proper way. Distinction between narratives and anecdotal records Advantages of narratives. Disadvantages of narratives. Research designs used in developmental studies. The longitudinal design. The cross-sectional design. Summary. References and suggested redwings

5. Theories and perspectives in child development
Wat is meant by the term theory of child development?. Biological or hereditary theories. The merits and good points. The limitations and fallacy. Behaviorist or environmentalist theories. Psychoanalytic theories or perspective. Freud’s psycho-Sexual theory of child development. Alfred adler’s perspective about the development of children. Ethological perspective or theories. Lorenz’s theory. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems and their role in child development. The microsystem. The mesosystem. The exosystem. The macrosystem. The chronosystem. Evaluation of the role of Bronfenbrenner’s theory or model of child development. Summary. References and suggesting readings

6. Genetics (Heredity) and environment
What is genetics?. What is heredity?. Determination of gender – boy or girl. Heredity and variations. Twins and heredity. Laws of heredity governing Transfer of heredity characteristics. Law of similarity (like begets like). Law of variation. Law or regression. What is environment. Boring, langfield and weld. Wordsworth and marquis. Measures for studying the role of heredity and environment. Twins and family studies. What is then contributed by heredity and what by environment. Genetics and child development. Implications of the knowledge related to the mechanism of heredity and environment. Summary. References and suggested readings

7. Pre-natal development, birth and care of newborns
Introduction. Conception of the child and beginning of life. The developmental journey after conception. The period of Zygote. The period of embryo. The period of foetus. Three trimesters of a mother’s pregnancy. Labour and delivery of babies. The stages of labour. The screening of the baby in the mother. Birthing options and techniques. The decision about the place of delivery. The decision about the procedure or technique used for delivery. Birth complications. The occurrence of events immediately after birth. The Apgar scale and its use for the assessment of a newborn. Weighing and screening of the baby. Factors affecting the prenatal development of a child. Summary. References and suggested readings

8. Physical development and physiological habits formation
Meaning of the term physical Growth and development. General pattern of the children’s physical growth and development. Increase in height and weight. Changes in body proportions. Anatomical growth and development. Increase in height and weight. Changes in body proportions. Anatomical growth and development. Growth and Development of internal organs. Nervous system. Muscular system. Circulatory and respiratory systems. Digestive system. Lymphatic system. Reproductive system. Factors affecting physical Growth and development. Physiological habits formation. Sleeping behavior: Nature and development. The sleeping Behavior of newborns. Sleeping behavior in the period of infancy and beyond. Development of eating behavior. Breast feeding. Bottle feeding. Introduction of solid food. Toilet training. Handedness and left-handed. Significance and implications of the knowledge related to physical development and physiological habits formation. Summary. References and suggested readings

9. Motor development
Meaning of motor development. How does motor development take place in growing children?. Motor development in infancy (from birth to 2 years). Motor development in childhood (from 3 to 12 years). Motor development in adolescence and adulthood. Delayed motor development causes of delayed motor development. Importance and implications of the knowledge of motor development. Summary. References and suggested readings

10. Sensory development
Meaning of the term mental or cognitive development. Development of vision or sight. Development of visual ability after infancy. Development of Hearing ability. Development of hearing ability after birth. Development of the sensory ability of touch. Development of the sensory ability of taste. Development of the sensory ability of smell. Summary. References and suggested readings

11. Mental or cognitive Development
Meaning of the term mental or cognitive development. Various areas or aspects of mental development. Sensation and perception. Development of problem-solving ability. Factors affecting mental growth and development. Cessation of mental growth. Significance and implications of the knowledge about mental development. Piaget’s and bruner’s theory of cognitive development. Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. Piaget’s Theoretical notions. Cognitive structure. Cognitive functioning. Stages of intellectual development. Sensori-motor stage (from birth to about 2 years). Pre-operational stage (about 2 to 7 years). Concrete Operational stage (about 7 to 11 years). Formal operation stage (about 12 to 15 years). Critical evaluation of Piaget’s theory. Appreciation and contribution to education. Bruner’s theory of cognitive development. Similarities and differences with Piaget’s theory. Implications of Bruner’s theory. Summary. References and suggested readings

12. Social Development
What is social development?. Development of social Behaviour at different stages of development. Social development during childhood. Social development during adolescence. Social maturity. Factors affecting social development. Personal factors. Environmental factors. Erickon’s theory of psycho-social Development. Throwing light on this aspect Erickson (1950), writes. Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of development. Zone of proximal development. Classroom implications. Summary. References and suggested readings

13. Language Development
Meaning of language. Forms of language. The process of language development. The stage prior to actual language Development. The stage related to actual language development. Factors influencing Language development. Theories of language Development. Imitation and reinforcement theory of language development. Nativist theory of language development. Interactionist theory of language development. Cognitive processing theory of language development. Summary. References and suggested readings

14. Emotional development
Introduction. What are emotions?. Nature and characteristics of emotions. Kinds of emotions. Physiological or bodily changes accompanying emotions. Internal bodily changes. External or observable bodily changes. Changes in facial expression. Changes in body postures. Changes in voice or vocal expression. Emotional development during different stages of development. Emotional development during infancy. Emotionality of childhood vs adulthood. Meaning of emotional maturity. Emotionality of childhood vs adulthood. Intensity. Briefness. Transitory. Frequency. Detection of emotionality. Differences in emotional expression. Factors influence emotional development. Health and physical development. Intelligence. Family atmosphere and relationships. School atmosphere and teachers. Social development and preer-group relationship. Neighborhood, the community and the society. Methods for training of emotions. Repression or inhibition. Industriousness or mental occupation. Redirection and sublimation. Catharsis. Role of parents and teachers in proper emotional development of children. Summary. References and suggested readings

15. Development of attachment and temperament
Attachment: meaning and concept. Theories of attachment. Psychoanalytic perspective or theories. Behavioural perspective or theories. Behavioural perspective or theories. Cognitive developmental perspective or theories. Ethological perspective or theories. Bowlby’s theory of attachment. The development of attachment behavior among children. Types or styles of attachment. The impact of the type of early attachment on later development. Assessing or measuring attachment . Strange Situation method. The steps for using strange situation technique. The method of employing attachment Q-Set. The procedure of steps involved in the use of AQS method. What is temperament?. Role of heredity and environment in temperament development. The stability and modification in temperament. The Concept of ‘Goodness of fit’ and child rearing. Theories or models of temperament. EAS theory or model of temperament. Rothbart’s theory or model of temperament. Measuring temperament. Critical questions indicating a particular type of temperamental Dimension. Summary References and suggested readings.


16. Moral or character Development
Introduction. What is morality?. Morality is an acquired or learned phenomenon. Levels of character or morality. Helping children in their moral development or Character formation . Theories of moral development. Piaget’s theory of moral development. Stages of moral development. Autonomous stage of morality. Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. Heinz steals the drug. Level I Pre-moral or pre-conventional morality (4-10 years). Level II. Conventional Morality (10-13 years). Level III. Post-conventional morality involving self-accepted moral principles (13 years and afterwards) Evaluation of Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. Criticism. Educational implications of moral development theory. Summary. References and suggested readings

17. Emergence and Development of the self
Introduction. Self-awareness: meaning and development. Self-concept and its development. Meaning of the term concept. Formation or development of concepts. Meaning of the term self-concept. Development of self-concept among children. Understanding development of self-concept from diverse aspect. Self-esteem and its development. Characteristics of persons having a high self-esteem. Characteristics of persons having a low self-esteem. Development of self-esteem among children. Self-efficacy and its development. Nature and characteristics of self-efficacy. Role of self-efficacy in the learning and development of children. How to help children in the development of self-efficacy. Self-regulation and its development. Role of self-regulation and self-regulated behavior in the functioning and development of children. Development of self-regulation and self-regulated behavior among children. Summary. References and suggested readings.

18. Characteristics of various stages of development – infancy to adolescence
Introduction. The stage of infancy and early childhood. The stage of childhood. The stage of adolescence. Who is an adolescent?. Pattern of growth of growth and development during adolescence. Physical growth and development. Emotional Development. Social development. Intellectual development. Moral and religious development. Sexual development. Stage of auto-erotism or self-love. Stage of homosexuality. Heterosexual stage. Special characteristics of adolescence (with reference to their needs and problems). Perplexity with regard to somatic variation. Intensification of self-awareness. Intensification of sex-consciousness. Independence v/s dependence. Peer group relationship. Idealism v/s realism. Vocational choice and need of self-support. Current issues related to adolescent stress. Reasons behind loneliness. Consequences and impacts of loneliness. What can we do for our adolescents?. Summary. References and suggested readings

19. Developmental tasks-concept and implications
Meaning and definition of the term developmental tasks. Identifying and naming the development tasks. Sources contribution towards the upsurge of development tasks. Critical ages and developmental tasks. Purposes and Goals of Developmental tasks. Role of cultural and social patterns in developmental task. Developmental tasks. Summary. References and suggested readings

20. Maturation: Concept and implications
The concept of maturation. Meaning of the term maturation. Effect of maturation on growth and development. Significance and implications of the phenomenon of maturation. Summary. References and suggested readings

21. Personality: Concept and development
The concept of personality. Certain wrong notions and misconceptions about personality. Meaning ad definition of the term personality. R. B Cattell. Eysenck . Evaluation of eysenck’s definition. Some glaring facts about personality. Factors influencing development of personality. Biological factors. Heredity influences. Nervous system. Ductless glands or endocrine glands. Physique or somatic structure. Body chemistry. Psychological factors. Intelligence and mental functioning. Interests and attitudes. Level of aspiration and achievement motivation. Will power. Emotional and temperamental make-up. Social and culture determinants of personality. Home and family. School environment. Other factors in the social environment. Development of an integrated or well-balanced personality. Characteristics of an integrated personality. Development of an integrated personality. Summary. References and suggested readings