76043 - General Psychology

Learning outcomes

The student has developed scientific and disciplinary competencies concerning the organization of behavior and the core psychological functions—perception, emotion, motivation, memory, learning, thinking, and language—through which individuals engage with their environment and construct representations of both the external world and the self. Furthermore, the student possesses a thorough understanding of emotional and motivational processes and their regulatory role in human behavior.

Course contents

The course addresses the main psychological processes underlying human behaviour, with particular attention to their application in healthcare settings.

The contents will focus on how individuals perceive the environment, select information, learn, remember, regulate emotions, construct meaning, and make decisions.

These topics will be explored through examples related to nursing practice, including pain perception, attention in care-related tasks, interruptions and cognitive load, prospective memory, emotional regulation in the care relationship, motivation in health behaviours, and communication with patients and family members

Readings/Bibliography

Recommended text
Giganti, F., Giovannelli, F., & Viggiano, M. P. (2026). Principi di psicologia per le professioni medico-sanitarie. Giunti Psicologia.IO.

Supplementary materials
Additional materials and further references will be provided by the lecturer during the course.

Materials presented in class will be made available on the Virtuale platform: https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Teaching methods

Lectures integrated with applied examples, brief exercises, and guided case discussions.

Assessment methods

Passing the Integrated Course in Human Sciences requires a single examination covering both course units, General Psychology and Pedagogy, to be taken in the same examination session. A single overall grade will be awarded. If the student does not pass one of the two units, or wishes to improve the grade, the entire Integrated Course examination must be retaken.

The examination consists of a written test in General Psychology and an oral examination in Pedagogy.

The written test in General Psychology lasts 28 minutes and consists of 31 multiple-choice questions covering the main topics of the course. Each correct answer is awarded one point, while incorrect or missing answers receive no points. The use of supporting materials, such as textbooks, notes, or electronic devices, is strictly prohibited during the test.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Slides, teaching materials, case studies, and any supplementary resources provided by the lecturer and made available on the Virtuale platform.

Office hours

See the website of Monica Martoni