Course Code BPS211
Fee Code S3
Number of Assignments 10
Duration (approx) 100 hours
Course Structure
The course consists of ten lessons including –
- Introduction – Theories of Human Development
- Life Crises
- Physical Development
- Intellectual Development
- Emotional Development
- Sexuality
- Social Development
- Moral Development
- Delinquency and Crime
- Adolescents and the Transition to Adulthood
Aims:
- Develop an understanding of the theories of child development in relation to
adolescents.
- Develop an understanding of life crises in relation to adolescents.
- Develop an understanding of the physical changes that occur in puberty.
- Develop an understanding of the intellectual changes that occur in
adolescence.
- Develop an understanding of the emotional development that occurs during
adolescence.
- Develop an understanding of sexuality during adolescence.
- Develop an understanding of the social development that occurs in
adolescence.
- Develop an understanding of the theories of moral development in relation to
teenagers.
- Consider the links between adolescence and delinquent activity such as
crime.
- Develop an understanding of the changes that occur moving from adolescence to
adulthood.
Some Sample Notes from the Course
Attachment Theory
John Bowlby is an influential figure within psychology, in particular child psychology.
Bowlby carried out work with maladapted and delinquent children. He was interested in
finding out whether actual patterns of family interactions were involved in healthy and
pathological development in children. He focussed on attachment and how difficulties in
this area could be transmitted from one generation to the other. Bowlby was working at
a time when attachment was not considered so important – the 1940s and 1950s. For
example, parents were not encouraged to visit children in hospital, as it was felt that
it would upset them.
Bowlby developed a scientific theory – Attachment Theory. He viewed that
attachment behaviour was an evolutionary strategy aimed at survival – protecting
the infant from harm. He argued that attachment relationships were crucial to later
healthy development.
Bowlby’s theory is based on the idea that normal mother-child or primary
caregiver-child attachment forms in the first two years of life. An attachment being
defined as a strong emotional bond. If the child is separated from the primary
caregiver during the first five years, it can cause difficulties for the child. The
Attachment Theory has been used to explain behavioural difficulties in adopted
children, psychopathology, juvenile delinquency and so on.
Attachment is fundamental to a healthy and normal personality and the ability to form
healthy emotional relationships. Attachment is the basis of emotional health and social
relationships. It allows us to develop the ability to form reciprocal relationships,
trust others, be secure and feel safe as a child. It allows children to develop
empathy, a conscious and so on. Children adopted after the age of six months may
experience attachment problems. Normal attachment develops during the first two to
three years of a child’s life. Any problems with the mother-child/primary
caregiver-child relationship during that time can interfere with this normal
development eg. Separation from the primary caregiver. If the child’s needs are
not met in a loving, nurturing way, attachment will not occur naturally and this can
lead to a variety of underlying symptoms.
Why might attachment not occur?
The relationship between the primary caregiver and child can be disrupted in a number
of ways, leading to the attachment not being secure. Examples might include
–
The mother suffers post-partum depression.
The parent may have had their own experience of trauma eg. Abuse, inappropriate
parental responses, so may not be aware of how to form a secure relationship.
Genetic factors
There may be disruptions in caregiving.
The child may be hospitalised.
Developmental disorders
The caregiver may feel overloaded, unable to cope with the child, so they may not be
able to meet the child’s needs.
Attachment Disorder can occur when a normal attachment relationship is not form. This
can result in a number of effects on the child, some more severe than others. This does
not mean that ALL children with attachment disorder develop these problems, they may
experience some, all or none.
Possible problems –
Phony behaviour – superficially charming
Avoiding eye contact
Lack of reciprocal affection
Indiscriminate affection with strangers
Self-destructive
Destructive to others, objects
Animal cruelty
Poor relationships with peers
Preoccupied with fire and/or gore
Asking nonsense questions
Little control over chattering
Inappropriate clinginess
Inappropriate sexuality
Lying in the face of the obvious
Poor impulse control
Learning delays
Lack of conscience
Lack of understanding of cause and effect
Abnormal eating patterns
Fear of intimacy
Lack of trust
Distorted view of self
Feelings of shame
Feelings of being unlovable
Sense that they are bad
Difficulty asking for help
Low motivation
Poor academic performance
Difficulty relying on others
Bowlby’s theory is a theory of normal development and psychopathology. It shows
how early experiences can affect our development. It is important to gain an
understanding of this theory, as it can show the problems experienced later in life by
adolescents and adults.
