MSc in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology: Programme Modules
Overview
The course has three basic components:
- Theoretical courses in Child Development and Psychoanalytic Concepts, (including an understanding of psychopathology, neuro-psychology, and psychodynamic thinking), followed by smaller seminar discussion.
- Observation of an infant and his/her family within the home, and a second observation of young children within a toddler group or nursery school - reported and explored confidentially in small seminar groups.
- Research seminars on qualitative and quantitative research methodology developing students' ability to critically evaluate claims, theories and evidence in the human sciences, culminating in empirical research work and dissertation.
Psychoanalytic Concepts - Dr Nick Midgley (40 credits)
One and a quarter hour lecture and one hour seminar per week.
This course aims at a critical understanding of the main psychoanalytic theories and models of the mind as these have developed over the past one hundred years: and at an appreciation of the similarity, diversity and richness of the various psychoanalytic theories coexisting at the present time.
The course falls broadly into three parts:
- Freud and the Creation of Psychoanalysis.
- Anna Freud and Contemporary Freudian Psychoanalysis.
- The Clinical Theory of Psychoanalysis.
Assessment - One essay and one unseen exam
Child Development - Dr Inge Pretorius (40 credits)
One and a quarter hour lecture and one hour seminar per week.
These reading-based lectures comprise an overview of the major theoretical works in psychoanalytic thinking and developmental psychology.
Covering child development from birth through adolescence, this course encompasses central psychoanalytic perspectives and contemporary issues and methods in developmental psychology and attachment research.
Topics covered include phases of development and environmental influences, development of self and object relations, psychic organisation, cognitive and moral development.
Assessment - One essay and one unseen exam.
Research Dissertation - Kay Henderson and Saul Hillman (60 credits)
In order to obtain a Masters, students will attend weekly 2 hour lectures on research design and analysis (both qualitative and quantitative using SPSS) and then devise, undertake and write up their own research project.
Assessment is by submission of a 15,000 word research dissertation.
Observation Courses
The aim of the observation courses is to train students to describe children's interactions in terms of the following:
- Mutual influences and reciprocity
- Verbal and non-verbal communications
- Expression of affect (feelings)
- Detailed sequencing and duration of behaviours
Infant Observation (10 credits)
Students arrange to observe an infant and family at home by mutual convenience with the family for one hour per week over the whole year.
These observations are supported by weekly one and a half hour seminars to present and discuss these observations in a small group.
Assessment - Submission of a portfolio comprising the written records of each observation.
Toddler Observation (10 credits)
Students observe a fortnightly toddler group for an hour and a half which is held at the Anna Freud Centre and attend weekly one hour seminars to present and discuss these observations.
Assessment - Submission of a portfolio comprising the written records of each observation.
Nursery Observation (10 credits)
Students observe weekly for one hour in local nursery schools and attend weekly one hour seminars to present and discuss these observations.
Assessment - Submission of a portfolio comprising the written records of each observation.
Applications of Psychoanalytic Theory to the Observation of Child Development (20 credits)
Students will complete an extended essay (5,000-10,000 words) integrating the observations of either mother-infant, toddler or nursery school aged child with appropriate developmental and psychoanalytic theory.