Units / CPS5003
CPS5003 · Psychoanalytic and developmental theories 2
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
This unit will consider the theories of Donald Winnicott and Melanie Klein and their relevance to understanding the psychological development of children and adolescents in terms of both healthy development and the development of psychopathology. The unit will also examine the relevance of these theories to working therapeutically with children and adolescents.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | Second semester | A combination of on-campus and online teaching in a block period (FLX-BLK) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Written assignment | Written | 40% | Threshold |
| 2 | Journal Submission 1 | Written | 20% | Threshold |
| 3 | Journal Submission 2 | Written | 20% | Threshold |
| 4 | On-campus workshop / Alternative assessment | Demonstration | 20% | — |
Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Distinguish between the theories of Melanie Klein and Donald Winnicott relevant to child development
- Evaluate the relevance of these theories and their assumptions to the psychological development of children and adolescents in terms of both healthy development and the development of psychopathology
- Critically reflect upon the historical context in which these theorists sit and their contemporary contribution to the field
- Critically evaluate the similarities, differences and limitations of these theorists to modern practice.
- Apply these theoretical concepts to case examples and analyse their relevance to clinical understanding and practice
Workload
In this unit there will be 12 hours of teaching and learning activities per week comprising a mix of teacher-directed and self-directed learning, including readings, video resources, online discussions, interactive tutorials, a reflective journal, and written assessments. In addition, you will attend and participate in the half day weekend workshop.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Tutorials | 9 hours |
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