56128 - Psychology of Adolescence

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student - knows the main theoretical and methodological orientations of Adolescence Psychology; - is able to distinguish between the concepts of personal identity and social identity; - is able to master concepts such as: developmental tasks, identity crisis, coping, emerging adulthood - knows the main changes in adolescence (physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional) and their rebounds on identity construction; - knows the importance of social context (family, peers, school, social institutions, culture) in adolescental development;- is able to master the concepts of ecological context and psychosocial transition; - knows the difference between normal and non normal processes of development; - knows in detail the main theories about the deviance in adolescence and the phenomenon of substance addiction; - knows the issues related to the migration process in adolescence; - is able to run educational projects in the field of prevention and intervention on social distress; - is able to critically evaluate educational projects in the field of prevention and intervention on social distress in adolescence; - knows the main tools for information retrieval within its area of intervention; - can carry out bibliographical researches in his/her field of study; - is able to conduct group activities; - is able to conduct individual interviews; - is able to draw up reports of research and reports on his/her activities; - is able to make autoupdating activities; - is able to carry out self-assessment and self-monitor activities periodically and in a critical way.

Course contents

The program concerns these topics:

1. The adolescence in classical and recent theories;
2. The main changes in adolescence and their rebounds on the identity construction;
3. The social contexts and their influence .on adolescent's development (family, peers, school, institutions);
4. The juvenile deviance and drug addiction;
5. Violent behaviour in adolescence;
6. Adolescence between light and shade: autonomy and dependency, bullying, online adolescence, risk taking and possible interventions.

Readings/Bibliography

Obligatory book:

Palmonari, A. (a cura di) (2011). Psicologia dell'adolescenza. Bologna: Il Mulino (Cap. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 e 12)

Chapters in book:

Melotti, G., Brighi, A. (2012), Comportamenti violenti e illegali in adolescenza nella Provincia di Rimini: differenze di genere. In R. Ghigi (a cura di), Adolescenti e differenze di genere. Pratiche e atteggiamenti dei giovani in Emilia-Romagna, pp. 189-203, Carocci, Roma.

Articles:

Melotti, G., Ghigi, R. (2011), Reati e comportamenti violenti in adolescenza nella realtà turistica della Provincia di Rimini: analisi delle sentenze del Tribunale dei Minori di Bologna, Turismo e Psicologia Rivista Interdisciplinare di Studi, Ricerche e Formazione, 1. (http://turismoepsicologia.padovauniversitypress.it/system/files/papers/2011_1_26.pdf)

Any other materials will be uploaded on virtuale.unibo.it

Teaching methods

The course is organised on the basis of:

• lectures supported by PowerPoint slides;
• brief discussions about the proposed themes;
• supporting material taken from different disciplinary fields (literature, cinema, essay writing).

Assessment methods

The exam will be in writing and will include 3 open questions. The exam will last an hour and a half.

Teaching tools

slides, video, paper and pencil material

Office hours

See the website of Giannino Melotti