The concept of gerontology and historical view are clarifies to facilitate a survey of their physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. Relevant perceptions as stage –crisis view and life-events view, including disengagement, activity, social exchange, and social breakdown theories among others are examined; social support and social integration and stereotyping of the older adults (ageism) are explored. The implications are examined.
The conceptualization of processes through which individuals and groups relate to each other will be explored. It provides a highly personalized professional development experience. Various technique facilitating learning about self and interpersonal processes are examined.
The course identifies the exceptional children. The adaption problems of the mentally retarded and the gifted are examined. Also examined are the society and the exceptional children, different support services for the different categories of exceptional children; and different possible ways of treatment. The role of education is examined.
This course explores the recent trend in the social and moral development throughout life. It examines the issues of possible incompatibility among previous theories and current life experiences. The educational implications are examined.
The concept of teaching and role of psychology in ensuring an efficient and effective teaching are explored. The application of psychological theories, such as Gagne’s phases of learning, Piaget’s constructivist approach, Skinner’s Operant conditioning (e. g. programmed learning), Bruner’s theories Vygotsky’s theory among others, is emphasized. Issues of instructional objectives, task analysis, reinforcement and punishment are highlighted. Issues of cultural diversity (adjustment), constructivism, motivation, class management, increasing, decreasing and maintaining behaviour, and self –control, are examined. Specific practical illustrations of common behaviour problems in schools, as well as ethnical issues are handled.
The course surveys the nature of normal affective development and possible assessment procedure including resolution of any deviation. Emphasis will be on educational implications such as in moral development, attitudes, values, empathy, self-esteem and locus of control.
The course focuses on the learning implications of social and psychological factors. It explores the possible influences of social factors (group characteristics, physical environment, sexualisation, peer tutoring, among others) and the psychological characteristics (cognitive style, intelligence, perception, attention, emotion, and so forth) on learning. Different learning related theories, issues in school learning as well as therapeutic resolution and prevention of learning problems are addressed.
The course embarks on comprehensive analyses of the major theories of personality. It starts with a study of different dimensions of the psychoanalytic theories and motives such as neopsychoanalytic approach (analytical psychology, inter-psychic theories and psychoanalytic social psychology.) more recent trends (ego analytic psychology and human relations) are also treated. The course goes further to the study of behaviour and learning theories (experimental analysis of behaviour and social psychology theories); dispositional theories (trait theories and temperament; factor analytic theories , theories, biological traits); self-theory and cognition (personal construct, cognitive behavioural theories); humanistic/existential theories (humanism and existential psychologises) and social context-situation ( social structure and culture). The implications to their therapeutic practices as well as their educational implications will be examined.
After a full grasp of what “normality” or “abnormality” entails, and its historical evaluation, the course analyses the various models of abnormal behaviour and their classification. The clinical picture of each type of psychopathology, its etiological factors and treatment procedures are equally handled. The educational implications are stressed.
The course clarifies the concept of behaviour modification and its historical evolution. The identification of the steps involved follows. It applies the clinical and experimental methods, scientific approach of methodological behaviourism: Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, cognitive-social learning, among others. Counter-conditioning, fatigue, incompatible stimuli, inhibitory and disinhibitory effect, and so on, are equally treated. It further considers specific practical illustrations of common behaviour problems in the school. Ethical issues involved are also considered.