PSYC3009 Lifespan Development in Cultural Perspective

2018

4.5

9 x 2-hour lectures per semester
4 x 2-hour tutorials per semester

1 Admission into BPSG-Bachelor of Psychological Studies (Graduate Entry)
1a Admission into BPSGFP-Bachelor of Psychological Studies (Graduate Entry) - City Campus
2 13.5 units from any second year PSYC topics
3 Admission into BHSPS-Bachelor of Health Sciences (Psychology)
3a Admission into BEDSEC-Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
3b ^ PSYC2018 - Research Methods 2
3c Admission into BHSPSFP-Bachelor of Health Sciences (Psychology) - City Campus
Must Satisfy: (((1 or 1a)) or (2 and (3 or 3a or 3b or 3c)))

1 of PSYC3033, PSYC3050 has been successfully completed

Introductory Psychology; basic human development, basic statistics and research methods

Psychology major: Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Bachelor of Psychological Studies (Graduate Entry), Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology), Bachelor of Psychological Science, Bachelor of Arts.

This topic builds on the coverage study of the human development from material in first and second year. It illustrates the application of psychological methods to the understanding of lifespan human development by focusing on specific issues in developmental psychology, including sensitivity to cross-cultural patterns and within-country, subgroup-specific patterns (e.g. cognitive ageing in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians). It will adopt a biopsychosocial approach, drawing on the Lifespan Framework of Baltes and Bronfenbrenner's Bio-ecological Systems Model. Theoretical, empirical and professional approaches will be used to canvass contemporary issues impinging on development at various points across the lifespan.

The topic aims to provide students an advanced understanding of selected topics in Lifespan development, from childhood to late adulthood. It will require the development of cross-cultral awareness and an appreciation of individual differences, and cultural influences on change in behaviour over time.

Upon successful completion students will have had an opportunity to acquire or enhance:

1. A working knowledge of a selection of broad areas, gleaned from lectures, readings, assignments and interactions with the convenor, tutor and peers.
2. Reasoning and critical thinking, necessary for satisfactory completion of exams and assignments.
3. Discipline-based writing skills, APA-style and ethical conventions for developmental psychologists, and statistical inference and interpretation skills (through assimilation of results of research papers, linking results to hypotheses, drawing valid conclusions in order to interpret results and to plan research).
4. Information-seeking skills, through the use of electronic resources available via the library and the over the Internet.
5. Communication skills, facilitated through small group discussions and contributions to class discussions and practical sessions.
6. Flexible learning capacity through FLO and other on-line activities.