Topic outline

  • General

  • Introduction

  • Session 1 – The Development of Self-concept

    1-2 hour to complete
    • The Development of Self-concept explores the formation and evolution of an individual's sense of self. It covers topics such as self-esteem, self-perception, self-awareness, and identity formation, examining how these concepts relate to various aspects of an individual's life such as relationships, social interactions and personal development. It also examines the role of culture and society in shaping self-concept and the impact of different life experiences on self-concept development. Additionally, it covers different theories of self-concept development.

      Objectives:
      1. Acquire knowledge of the various factors that contribute to the formation and evolution of an individual's self-concept.
      2. Analyze the impact of culture and society on self-concept development and how different life experiences shape self-concept.
      3. Evaluate the relationship between self-concept and various aspects of an individual's life, such as relationships, social interactions, and personal development.
      4. Analyze and compare different theories of self-concept development and their relevance to understanding the formation of self-concept.

  • Session 2 – Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

    1-2 hour to complete

    • Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational theory in psychology that explains how human beings have different needs that must be fulfilled in order to achieve self-actualization. The theory is represented by a pyramid, with the most basic needs at the bottom and the need for self-actualization at the top. The five levels of needs include physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs. The theory suggests that lower needs must be fulfilled before individuals can focus on higher needs.


      Objectives:
      1. Understand the concept of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and the five levels of needs it includes.
      2. Analyze how different needs must be fulfilled in a specific order for an individual to achieve self-actualization.
      3. Evaluate the relevance of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in understanding human motivation and behavior.
      4. Apply Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to real-world situations to better understand the needs and motivations of others.

  • Session 3 – Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

    1-2 hour to complete

    • Explores the nature and development of human intelligence as proposed by Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget, covering the four stages of cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational, characterized by specific cognitive abilities and ways of thinking. Examines how children construct an understanding of the world through their experiences and interactions and how Piaget's theory has influenced the field of child development and education. Also focuses on the practical application of the theory in real-world settings.


      Objectives:
      1. Understand Piaget's theory of cognitive development and the four stages of cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.
      2. Analyze how children construct an understanding of the world through their experiences and interactions according to Piaget's theory.
      3. Evaluate the impact of Piaget's theory on the field of child development and education.
      4. Apply Piaget's theory of cognitive development to real-world situations to better understand the cognitive development of children and adolescents.

  • Session 4 – Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory

    1-2 hour to complete

    • Vygotsky's Social Development Theory is a psychological theory that emphasizes the role of social interactions in the development of cognitive abilities. The theory posits that children's cognitive development is closely tied to their social interactions and that the more capable and knowledgeable members of a child's community play a key role in helping the child to construct new knowledge and skills. This course would likely explore Vygotsky's ideas in depth, including his concept of the "zone of proximal development" and the role of "scaffolding" in helping children to learn and grow. It may also examine the implications of Vygotsky's theory for education and child development.


      Objectives:
      1. Understand the key principles and assumptions of Vygotsky's Social Development Theory.
      2. Analyze the impact of social interactions and culture on cognitive development.
      3. Investigate the application of Vygotsky's theory in educational settings and child development.
      4. Evaluate the implications of Vygotsky's Social Development Theory for understanding human learning and development.

  • Session 5 - Skinner’s Theory of Operant Conditioning

    1-2 hour to complete

    • Skinner's Theory of Operant Conditioning course is a study of the psychological principles put forth by behaviorist B.F. Skinner. The course will explore Skinner's theories on how behavior is shaped and maintained through reinforcement and punishment, and the role of consequences in shaping behavior. It will also examine the practical applications of operant conditioning in fields such as education, parenting, and therapy. Additionally, the course will also address some of the criticisms of Skinner's theory.

      Objectives:
      1. Understanding the basic principles of operant conditioning, including the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.
      2. Recognizing and applying the key concepts and terminology used in operant conditioning, such as positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment.
      3. Analyzing and evaluating different examples of operant conditioning in real-world settings, such as in education, parenting, and therapy.
      4. Evaluating the criticisms of Skinner's theory and understanding the limitations of operant conditioning as a model for behavior.

  • Session 6 - Pavlov’s Theory of Classical Conditioning

    1-2 hour to complete

    • Pavlov's Theory of Classical Conditioning is a study of the psychological principles that explain how behavior is learned through the process of association. It covers key concepts such as unconditioned stimulus (UCS), unconditioned response (UCR), conditioned stimulus (CS) and conditioned response (CR) . It examines the practical applications of classical conditioning in fields such as education, therapy, and advertising. Additionally, it addresses some of the criticisms of Pavlov's theory.

      Objectives:
      1. Understand how associations between stimuli and responses are formed
      2. Learn how classical conditioning can explain a wide range of behaviors
      3. Appreciate how classical conditioning can change or modify behavior through extinction, generalization, and discrimination
      4. Appreciate how classical conditioning can be applied in fields such as psychology, education, and therapy.

  • Conclusion

    • This pathway has given you an overview of the principles used to underpin health and care practices from the leading thinkers of theorists. You should now be able to confidently name some of the theories associated with health and care and associate them with modern day practices. Move on to part 2 for further reading on theoretical principles.

  • Final Reflection Task

    • Your final part of this pathway is to share a reflection. It is important to reflect after any learning you do as this helps close the loop on what you have learnt, gives you the opportunity to answer any question you may have or even encourage you to find out more information. It will also help us in creating future pathways, learning packages and platforms.