Caregiver-child interactions and social-cognitive processing in typical and atypical development

The main goal of this course will be to inform students about state-of-the-art research within the EU on caregiver-child interactions and their impact on social-cognitive processing in neurodiverse samples (e.g., typically developing as well as premature born and deaf children). The seminar unites leading experts from four different countries (Poland, Italy, Denmark, Germany).

It will be organized in six main blocks, including one introductory session with all participants, followed by four main blocks, each focusing on one specific topic, and one final block to summarize results and provide feedback (again with all participants).

The course is joint with 3 international partner institutions therefore the main platform is classroom activity via zoom.

Each main topic block will consist of one online-lecture (with audio or video-files) of max 90 minutes duration to be downloaded, and one interactive session (online) to discuss questions regarding the lecture (90 minutes).

As part of the interactive session, students will be asked to present research papers in class. For the presented papers students will be asked to also write an outline/summary handout of the paper, which will be not graded but required to complete the course. The materials will be uploaded through a link that will be provided.

Heidelberg, Germany

Prof. Sabina Pauen (email: sabina.pauen@psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de): Professor, Department of Psychology

Cecil Mata Lopez (email: cecil_mata.lopez@psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de ): PhD candidate at the Faculty of Behavioral and Cultural Sciences

University of Warsaw, Poland

Agnieszka Pluta (apluta@psych.uw.edu.pl): Faculty of Psychology

University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Dora Kampis (e-mail: dk@psy.ku.dk): Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology

Victoria Southgate (e-mail: victoria.southgate@psy.ku.dk): Professor, Department of Psychology

University of Milan, Italy

Maria Lorella Gianni (e-mail: maria.gianni@unimi.it): Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health

Monica Fumagalli (email: monica.fumagalli@unimi.it): Associate Professor of Pediatrics Department of Clinical science and Community Health

Daniela Morniroli (email: daniela.morniroli@unimi.it): PHD Student Nutritional Sciences

General learning goals of the course will be

(a) to improve your skills in writing and oral communication and

(b) to practice exchange with students and lecturers from different EU countries.

With regard to developmental and clinical psychology, the main learning goals are to

(a) better understand the impact of caregiver-child interactions on social-cognitive processing in different populations of young children,

(b) to become familiar with different research approaches for studying these relations, and

(c) to gain detailed knowledge about the specific challenges regarding social-interaction competencies that parents and children face when the child has special needs.

Grades will be based on the oral group presentation 1 or 2 research papers during the semester. Presence in the interactive sessions is mandatory, but each site’s students have to consider the guidelines of their institution. Due to the differences in ECTS credits and local regulations between institutions, some course requirements may differ across sites. For reference, please check your own university’s website and local course information.

Please follow the rules of your university when subscribing to the course.