Developmental Perspective on Human Aging

N/A

Exhibitions, lectures, case presentations and discussion of the theoretical and scientific foundations linked to the evolution of knowledge in the development in old age. Additionally, conducting literature searches, for the student to become familiar with the scientific expertise in an area of interest in this discipline.
The evaluation will respect the provisions of the School of Education Regulation. Students will choose assessment during the semester or assessment by examination. The assessment during the semester contemplates the realization of an individual test of knowledge (60% of the final grade) and a research paper about the main challenges in promoting development in old age (40% of the final grade). This work will be delivered in written form, presented and discussed in class on dates to match.
Assessment by examination will consist of a written test about any matter summarized.

At the end of this Course, the student should be able to:
– Employ different theoretical perspectives about the current development in old age.
– Identify the normal changes associated with aging in terms of intelligence and cognitive abilities, including changes that may have impact on the functioning of the elderly.
– Recognizing the potential of people in old age in terms of wisdom, creativity, satisfaction with life, resilience, generativity, engagement with life and with the community.

1 – Introductory remarks about the nature of human development.
2 – Developmental perspectives about aging:
2.1. Ecological Approach;
2.2. Developmental Contextualism;
2.3. Theory of Action and Personal Control;
2.4. Developmental Psychology of Lifespan.
3 – Promoting development in old age: main challenges:
3.1. The issue of wellbeing;
3.2. Dealing with change and the unpredictability of life;
3.3. The confrontation with death.

• - Exam - 100.0%

• - Frequency - 60.0%
• - Individual and/or Group Work - 40.0%

NAO

Baltes, P. B., & Schaie, K. W. (Eds.). (2013). Life-span developmental psychology: Personality and socialization. Elsevier.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (2011). Bioecologia do desenvolvimento humano: Tornando os seres humanos mais humanos. Porto Alegre: Artmed.
Lerner, R. M., Agans, J. P., Souza, L. M., & Hershberg, R. M. (2014). Developmental science in 2025: A predictive review. Research in Human Development, 11 (4), 255-272.
Lima, M. P. (2010). Envelhecimentos. Coimbra: Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra.
Overton, W. F. (2010). Life-span development: Concepts and issues. Cognition, biology, and methods across the lifespan. New Jersey: Wiley.