Aims of the paper:

In this paper we will introduce some key theories and research relating to patterns of human growth and development from before birth until late adulthood. The context of Aotearoa New Zealand is emphasised, including the influence of family/whānau, education and other social settings, peers and mass media. We believe it is important to recognise how ideas about development change over time, and how different ideas can compete with each other, for example, about the rights and responsibilities of children and adults in contemporary society. Different ways of thinking about human development serve different social and political purposes, and some have more power and influence than others. We acknowledge the diversity of beliefs within many contemporary societies, and at the same time we are interested in thinking about what ways of living seem most likely to promote social justice, improve the quality of caring for others, and enhance the wellbeing of all members of society.

The perspective taken on this paper:

In this paper we take a ‘critical approach’. The major academic discipline resourced in this paper is Psychology. But western developmental psychology is overwhelmingly North American in origin and provides a particular cultural story – rather than ‘the truth’ – about human development. We therefore discuss how and why particular stories about development change in a particular society over time, and also consider alternative stories of development, particularly insights from Māori culture that co-exist with the western story in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This paper is taught over a 12-week trimester and is divided into a number of topics focusing on development across the lifespan. There is a two-hour face-to-face lecture in the first two weeks of the trimester, followed by recorded lectures (one hour) and associated activities (approx. one hour) each week for the remainder of the trimester. All students are expected to attend face-to-face lectures and tutorials, and engage with course activities online.

To successfully complete this paper, you will need to:

• Engage with the recorded online lectures and associated activities, and attend one tutorial group (2 hours) each week;
• Participate in class discussions and activities, and the sharing of ideas and experiences;
• Read in advance the relevant readings on the Readings List;
• Achieve an overall pass mark of 50% for assessed work.