Course aims:

Comparative analysis of contemporary psychology paradigms and stimulate interest in human development psychology
Form a general understanding of human behavior and cognitive processes supporting it
Familiarize students with the main applied areas of human development psychology

Course Entry Requirements:

Psychology from pre-university education

Course contents:

1. The object of Psychology. Scientific approach in psychology
2. Contemporary psychology paradigms: Psychoanalysis and Behaviorism
3. Contemporary psychology paradigms: Humanism and Cognitivism
4. Sensations and perceptions
5. States of consciousness: alternating and altered states
6. Anatomy of the hypnotic phenomenon
7. The unconscious: Psychoanalytic vs. cognitive unconscious
8. Thinking, problem-solving, reasoning
9. Language, neurophysiology of language, psychogenetic milestones in language development
10. Learning: classical and operant conditioning
11. Social cognitive model in learning, biological limits of learning
12. Stages of cognitive and socio-emotional development
13. General intelligence: theoretical models, genetic and acquired aspects
14. Emotional intelligence: research paradigms and theoretical models

Teaching methods:

Lecture, team work

Learning outcomes:

Familiarize students with the main concepts and theories in human development psychology

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

Exam and evaluation form

Recommended reading:

Attkinson R. & Attkinson R., Introduction to Psychology, Technical Publishing, Bucharest, 2002, -.
Miclea, M., Cognitive Psychology, Gloria, Cluj Napoca, 1994, -.
Smith, Edward E., Introduction to Psychology, Technical Publishing, Bucharest, 2005, -.