- Docente: Maria Paola Zamagni
- Credits: 3
- SSD: M-PSI/01
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Rimini
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Nursing (cod. 8475)
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to present:
1. the organization of behaviour and of the main psycological functions (perception, emotion, motivation, memory, learning, thought, language) that people use to interact with the environment and to develop self representations;
2. emotional and motivational processes and their influence on behavior.Course contents
LEARNING - Classical conditioning. The basic procedure involved in classical conditioning. Extinction. Generalisation. Discrimination. Spontaneous recovery. Operant conditioning. Law of effect. Positive and negative reinforcement. Shaping. Schedules of reinforcement. Escape and avoidance learning. Similarities and differences between classical and operant conditioning. Clinical application of learning methods
MEMORY - Memory as information processing
(registration – storage – retrieval). The nature of memory: sensory
memory (iconic and echoic memory), short-term memory, long-term
memory. Models of memory and neural components. Serial position
effect. Declarative and procedural memory. Retroactive and
proactive interference. Memory and emotions.
PERCEPTION - Recognition and localization in
perceptual experience. Gestalt psychology and visual perception.
Illusions and ambiguous figures. Infant visual perception.
Perception and emotions.
ATTENTION AND STATES OF VIGILANCE - Circadian rhythms. Selective attention and divided attention. Psychophysiology of sleep. REM sleep and NREM sleep: functions of dreaming.
THOUGUT - Categorization and formation of concepts. Types of thoughts. Mental set, problem solving and insight. Divergent/Convergent thinking. Inductive/Deductive reasoning.
INTELLIGENCE - Theories of cognitive development: Piaget's genetic epistemology. Interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Measurement of intelligence: IQ tests. Theory of multiple intelligences: emotional intelligence.
LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION - Stages in language development. Relationship between language and thought. Localization and lateralisation of language. Cortical areas, language and language disorders. Verbal/Non-verbal language. Communication skills. Communication and interpersonal dynamics in clinical context.
EMOTION - Theories of emotion: activation,
expression and recognition of emotions. Cerebral hemispheres,
specific brain structures in emotional experience. Facial
expression of emotions. Emotions and social influences.
MOTIVATION - Human behaviour: biologically-based
motives, sensation-seeking motives, complex psychosocial motives.
Homeostatic drive theory and drive reduction theory. Theories of
the attachment process: early social development. Imprinting and
maternal deprivation.
CONFLICT AND STRESS - Types of conflict. Effects
of conflict on behaviour. Psychophysiological responses to stress.
Stress and illness: acute and chronic stressors and the immune
system. Problem-focused coping strategies and emotion-focused
coping strategies.
FRUSTRATION AND AGGRESSION - Causes of
frustration. Responses to frustration. Frustration-aggression
hypothesis. Theories of aggression: psychoanalytic approach,
ethological approach, social learning. Reduction and control of
aggressive behavior.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN THE NURSE-PATIENT RELATIOSHIP
Readings/Bibliography
Schacter D.L. - Gilbert D.T. - Wegner D.M., Psychology, 2009, Worth Publishers, New York and Basingstoke.
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Assessment methods
Multiple choice test.
Teaching tools
Slides; readings.
Office hours
See the website of Maria Paola Zamagni