Infant Mental Health in Context module (PY42008)

​​Infant mental health sits at the intersection of developmental psychology, attachment theory, and applied clinical practice. This module gives you a thorough grounding in the theoretical and applied dimensions of this field, developing your ability to critically evaluate evidence and link psychological understanding with real-world applications. 

​Topics covered may include: key theories of infancy (including attachment theory, social learning theory, and psychoanalytic approaches); infants' communicative overtures and developmental capacities learned in the social context; responsive care; early interventions; measurements of infant mental health and evaluations of interventions; and pre-birth communication. 

​Teaching is delivered through face-to-face lectures, guided seminars, and student-led discussions. You'll be expected to carry out substantial independent study. Formative exercises, which may include in-class presentations and practical exercises, are used to increase engagement with the material and facilitate discussion. 

​What you will learn 

​In this module, you will: 

• ​Develop knowledge and critical understanding of core theories, debates, and developments in infant mental health research 
• ​Understand the current infant mental health landscape and the applied context for research 
• ​Critically evaluate relevant research and contrast competing theories and perspectives 
• ​Link psychological understanding with real-world applications in infant mental health 
• ​Communicate consistent, evidence-supported arguments in verbal and written discussion 

​By the end of this module, you will be able to: 

• ​Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of core theories, debates, and developments in infant mental health 
• ​Demonstrate understanding of the current infant mental health landscape and applied research context 
• ​Critically evaluate relevant research and contrast competing theories, evidence, and perspectives 
• ​Link theoretical and methodological understanding with real-world applications 
• ​Express consistent arguments supported by evidence in verbal and written formats​

Assignments / assessments

​​Coursework assignment (35%) 

• ​One written assignment 

​Invigilated online exam (60%) 

• ​A two-hour on-campus exam delivered online 
• ​You will answer two equally-weighted questions from a pool of five or six 

​Attendance (5%) 

• ​Assessed attendance across the module​

Teaching methods / timetable

• ​​Face-to-face lectures 
• ​Guided seminars with student-led discussions 
• ​Formative in-class presentations​