Infancy: Family and Social Context (PSYT90030)

Intended learning outcomes

• to familiarize students with a historical perspective on infant care practices and their relevance to contemporary parenting practice
• to inform students about theoretical models for understanding family processes, dynamics, structure and evolution
• to introduce students to practical and theoretical aspects of child-rearing and the influence of factors on these
• to introduce students to theoretical models for understanding factors influencing transition to parenthood and vulnerabilities in adaptation to parenthood.
• to inform students about some common problems encountered by infants and their parents in early infancy and toddlerhood
• to provide an introduction to models of infant mental health assessment and treatment

Generic skills

Students will be able to:

• critically appraise, apply and synthesis theories about family and social factors to identify and describe how the infant’s emotional and social development occurs in the context of family and social factors.
• recognise and describe common mental health problems and some of the infant mental health approaches to clinical intervention.