24684 - Clinical Applications of Positive Psychology

Learning outcomes

The student will: - learn the development of the concept of positive Psychology; - learn about the concepts of subjective wellbeing and life satisfaction; - learn the assessment of positive emotions and their role in human development; - learn about positive mental health and its implication in psychological therapies.

Course contents

The module taught by Prof Ruini consist of 30 hours of teaching ,organized into the the following topics:

1. Historical, cultural and philosophical background of Positive Psychology

2. Subjective well-being and life satisfaction

3. Positive emotions and their role in human development
4. Psychological well-being &Eudaimonia
5. Positive mental health and its implications for psychological interventions

6. psychopathology and well-being

7. Positive personality traits, character's strenghts

8. Positive interpersonal relationships and implications for health:  altruism, love and empathy

9. Forgiveness & and wisdom

10. Post traumatic growth

The module by ProfLandi introduces the theoretical, clinical, and experiential foundations of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), with particular attention to its connections with Positive Psychology.

The following topics will be addressed:

1. Historical, theoretical, and clinical background of ACT.
2. Connections between ACT and Positive Psychology.
3. Psychological flexibility and inflexibility as central processes in positive mental health, adaptive functioning, psychopathology, and clinical change.
4. Experiential avoidance, acceptance, and openness to internal experiences.
5. Cognitive fusion and defusion: changing the relationship with thoughts, beliefs, images, and memories.
6. Contact with the present moment, mindfulness, and flow.
7. Self-as-context, perspective-taking, personal identity, and self-compassion.
8. Personal values, the construction of a meaningful life, committed action, and values-oriented behavioral change.
9. Clinical case conceptualization and the promotion of positive mental health according to the ACT model.

Readings/Bibliography

Chiara Ruini. Positive Psychology in the Clinical Domains. Research and Practice. Springer International Publishing, 2017.

ISBN978-3-319-52110-7 DOI10.1007/978-3-319-52112-1

ebook at : https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319521107

https://www.springer.com/it/book/9783319521107#

Alternative readings

Alex M. Wood, Judith Johnson: The Wiley Handbook of Positive Clinical Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2016. ISBN: 9781118468241 DOI: 10.1002/9781118468197

Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9781118468197

Ruini C. Psicologia Positiva e Psicologia Clinica: Una prospettiva integrata. il Mulino, 2021; ISBN: 978-88-15-29338-1 (in Italian)

For the Moduleby prof Landi, the reference materials for exam preparation consist of the slides, the scientific articles and/or selected book chapters indicated during the lectures, and the experiential and applied materials used in class. These materials represent the fundamental basis for individual study.

The following texts are recommended as optional further readings:

Kashdan, T. B., & Ciarrochi, J. V. (Eds.). (2013). Mindfulness, acceptance, and positive psychology: The seven foundations of well-being. New Harbinger Publications.

Harris, R. (2019). ACT made simple: An easy-to-read primer on acceptance and commitment therapy (2nd ed.). New Harbinger Publications.

Teaching methods

Lectures will be delivered in presence at Cesena Campus during the first semester of teaching (Sept-Nov)

Lectures with Power Point Presentation.
Case exemplifications and role-playing
team work
journal club
confrence presentations: video and scientific discussions on updated topics and reserch in positive psychology

This is an interactive course, where students will be directly involved in group activities and discussion on the main topics of positive psychology. Students will learn how to use tests and assessment tools for measuring personal well-being and resourses, as well as they will directly experience some posite intervention activities.

Active participation to the classes will allow students to learn theories and concepts of positive psychology and to directly practice their applications in various types of interventions.

The lectures of the second module will be delivered in person at the Cesena Campus during the first semester of classes (November–December period).

The module includes lectures, clinical case analysis, and role-playing. Part of the activities will be experiential and applied in nature, with individual and group exercises based on the ACT model, clinical simulations, guided reflections, and viewing/discussion of clinical videos.

Students’ active participation will be encouraged in order to support both the acquisition of the main theoretical contents of ACT and an initial familiarization with the clinical language of the approach, its metaphors, and some intervention techniques specific to ACT.

Assessment methods

The assessment method will consist of a single WRITTEN exam for both modules and it will be delivered via Esami Online (EOL.unibo.it).  The exam will have a total duration of 60 minutes and will be structured as follows : 14 multiple-choice questions (1 point for each correct answer, 0 points for incorrect or missing answers) and 1 open-ended question (up to 2 points) for each of the two modules.

This exam will serve to evaluate the adequacy of the knowledge acquired concerning the topics of the integrated course and the ability to organize and integrate information, with particular reference to clinical and therapeutic implications. The evaluation criteria used for grading the open-ended question are as follows: congruence and completeness of the answer concerning the discussed topics (0-0.60 points); critical reworking and synthesis ability of the discussed topics (0-0.60 points); completeness of the theoretical frameworks of reference (0-0.60 points). The correctness of the written language and/or providing clinical examples represent additional rewarding criteria (0-0.2 points).

Full passing of the exam (30/30) and the possible addition of honors are based on the correctness of the closed responses and the completeness and adequacy of the open response. The final grade corresponds to the sum of the evaluations obtained in the tests of the individual courses of the integrated course. The exam will be considered passed with a minimum score of 18/30. There are no intermediate tests or prerequisites before taking the final exam.

Registration for the exam is done through the AlmaEsami  app, following the usual procedures. The written exam will be conducted on the UNIBO EOL platform, and students must bring  their own PC, tablet, or other devices, such as a mobile phone (PC is recommended)to be connected at ALMAWIFI . During the exam, the use of AI or other support materials such as textbooks, e-books, notes, or other electronic aids is not allowed. 

Erasmus or exchange program students are invited to contact the professor at the beginning of the course. Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders can contact the professor and the University's Service for Students with Disabilities and DSA (http://www.studentidisabili.unibo.it/ ) to arrange appropriate teaching and assessment methods

Teaching tools

Teaching tools

Handouts and power point presentations available on internet (Virtuale.unibo.it )

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Ruini

See the website of Giulia Landi