- Docente: Elvira Cicognani
- Credits: 7
- SSD: M-PSI/05
- Language: Italian
- Moduli: Elvira Cicognani (Modulo 1) Francesca Esposito (Modulo 2)
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
- Campus: Cesena
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in School and Community Psychology (cod. 5961)
-
from Sep 29, 2025 to Oct 20, 2025
-
from Oct 20, 2025 to Nov 12, 2025
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student:
- knows the main theoretical models and approaches to risk prevention and health promotion;
- knows the main methodologies for investigating health needs;
- is able to identify suitable methodologies for prevention and health promotion interventions;
- has acquired some skills in the planning and evaluation of prevention and health promotion interventions.
Course contents
The course aims to introduce students to some intervention strategies and methods that are part of the professional skills of psychologists who work in the field of prevention and health promotion in a variety of contexts (e.g. schools, health services, neighborhoods, media ).
It consists of two teaching modules taught by the following teachers:
Module 1 - Prof. Elvira Cicognani
Topics covered:
Health psychology: origins, reference frameworks (public health psychology and community health psychology) and theoretical models, scientific and lay perspectives on health and disease. Health inequalities.
Health promotion: approaches, models and contexts of health promotion
The analysis of health needs and the planning and evaluation of interventions.
Module 2 Prof. Francesca Esposito
Topics covered:
Health and power: critical health psychology and its main characteristics from the point of view of epistemological and methodological perspectives.
Health and migration; health and detention.
Participatory and creative action research methodologies aimed at promoting health and transformative change. Civil society activation processes to guarantee and affirm the right to health.
Readings/Bibliography
Module 1 Prof.ssa Cicognani
Zani, B. & Cicognani, E. (2000) Psicologia della salute, Il Mulino, Bologna. (cap. 1, 2, 3, 5)
Gremigni, P. & Gorini, A. (a cura di) (2022), Psicologia e salute, Carocci, Roma (Capitoli 1, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 21).
Module 2 - Prof.ssa Esposito
Testi principali (obbligatori):
Lykes, M. B. (2000). Possible contributions of a psychology of liberation: Whither health and human rights? Journal of Health Psychology, 5(3), 383–397. https://doi.org/10.1177/135910530000500312 [https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1177/135910530000500312]
Martín-Baró, I. (autore) Croce, M. e Di Lernia, F. (a cura di). (2018). Psicologia della Liberazione. Bordeaux edizioni. Capitoli: Prefazione; Introduzione; Psicologia della Liberazione (pp. 13-274).
Morison, T., Lyons, A.C., & Chamberlain, K. (2018). Critical health psychology: Applications for social action. In K O’Doherty & D Hodgetts (Eds.), SAGE Handbook of Applied Social Psychology (pp. 215-231). London: Sage.
Farmer, P. (1996). On Suffering and Structural Violence: A View from Below. Daedalus, 125(1), 261–283. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20027362
Bodini, C., Riccio, M., Paganoni, C., Gentilini, V. (2021). L’equità nel diritto alla salute: una ricerca-azione multimetodologica e interdisciplinare per il contrasto alle disuguaglianze nella città di Bologna [https://cris.unibo.it/handle/11585/827345] . In M. Castrignanò (Ed.), Sociologia dei Quartieri Urbani, (pp. 111 – 131), FrancoAngeli.
Podcast:“The Operative Word!”, Podcast of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology (edited by Dr Britta Wigginton, Dr Ally Gibson, and Dr Brett Scholz). In particolare, ascoltare: Issue 3, Volume 1, on “Power”: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theoperativeword/episodes/Volume-1-Issue-3-Power-e2i6bi/a-a6bucd
Testi per approfondimento temi trattati nel modulo (opzionali):
Salute e potere: la psicologia della salute critica
Chamberlain, K. (2018). Poverty, health, and health psychology: A critical perspective. Psicologia della Salute, 1, 5-18. https://doi.org/10.3280/PDS2018-001001
Murray, M. (2015). Introducing Critical Health Psychology. In M Murray (Ed.), Critical Health Psychology (Second edition) (pp. 1-16). Bloomsbury.
Riemer [https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/author/manuel-riemer/], M., Reich, S. M. [https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/author/stephanie-m-reich/], Evans S. D. [https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/author/scotney-d-evans/], N elson [https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/author/geoffrey-nelson/], G., Isaac Prilleltensky [https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/author/isaac-prilleltensky/], I. (2020). Community psychology: In pursuit of liberation and well-being (3rd edition). Red Globe Press.
Fine, M. (2016). Just methods in revolting times. Qualitative research in psychology, 13(4), 347–365. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2016.1219800
Prilleltensky I. (2012). Wellness as fairness. American Journal of Community Psychology, 49(1-2), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-011-9448-8
Stam, H. J.(2015). ‘A Critical History of Health Psychology and Its Relationship to Biomedicine’. In M Murray (Ed.), Critical Health Psychology (Second edition) (pp. 1-16). Bloomsbury.
La psicologia della liberazione e approcci decoloniali alla promozione della salute
Fanon, F. (2015). Pelle nera, maschere bianche. Edizioni ETS. Capitolo IV - Sul presunto complesso di dipendenza del colonizzato (pp. 87-107).
Ramugondo, E.L., Emery-Whittington, I. (2022). A Decolonising Approach to Health Promotion. In: Kessi, S., Suffla, S., Seedat, M. (eds) Decolonial Enactments in Community Psychology. Community Psychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75201-9_10t
Samah, J. (2021). Sumud. Resistere all'oppressione. Sensibili alle Foglie. Capitolo: Sulla Salute Mentale (pp. 25-49).
Salute e migrazione/detenzione
Esposito, F., Caja, E., e Mattiello, G. (2022). Corpi reclusi in attesa di espulsione: La detenzione amministrativa in Europa al tempo della sindemia. SEB27. Capitoli: Prefazione; L’aquila; Introduzione; Il confinamento della mobilità: Innovazioni e continuità nella storia della detenzione amministrativa in Italia; “Ormai non ci guarda più nessuno”: un confinamento nel confinamento; E dopo il lockdown, cosa?
Prilleltensky I. (2008). Migrant well-being is a multilevel, dynamic, value dependent phenomenon. American journal of community psychology, 42(3-4), 359–364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-008-9196-6
Podcast Unchained Collective: “Immigration Detention the Hidden Costs”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/immigration-detention-the-hidden-costs/id1731118109
Ricerca-azione partecipata per promuovere il diritto alla salute
Centro Studi e Ricerche in salute Internazionale e Interculturale, Università di Bologna (2023). L’equità nel diritto alla salute: il contrasto alle disuguaglianze nella città di Bologna. Disponibile presso: https://centri.unibo.it/csi/it/progetti/tutti-i-materiali-della-ricerca-l-equita-nel-diritto-alla-salute
Consulting “The Public Science project”: https://publicscienceproject.org/about/
Teaching methods
- lectures
- analysis and discussion of papers in group
- development of an intervention
Assessment methods
The final exam is intended to assess the knowledge and skills acquired on the topics addressed in the course. The following examination methods are foreseen.
A. Attending students (i.e., those who attended at least two-thirds of the lessons)
- Module 1
A written exam (4 open-ended questions, duration: 2 hours) on the course content, to be taken at the end of Module 1.
The evaluation, graded out of thirty, will consider the completeness and thoroughness of the answers, as well as the ability to critically reflect on the course content (the latter is necessary to obtain honors).
- Module 2
Preparation of an essay (3,000 words) to be completed at the end of Module 2. Students will identify and agree upon the topics to be developed with the teacher and will work on an essay plan during the lessons.
The evaluation, graded out of thirty, will take into account the following aspects: a) Originality in the choice of topic and its relevance to the course content b) Depth of knowledge and critical engagement with the relevant scientific literature, and its application in developing the student's own arguments c) Formal quality of the written work produced
Honors (cum laude) may be awarded if the student receives a satisfactory evaluation in all of the above areas.
The final grade will be the average of the scores obtained on the written exam (Module 1) and the essay (Module 2). If both assessments are passed and the student accepts the result, the grade will be officially recorded on the scheduled exam dates.
B. In all other cases (This includes attending students who do not take the exam at the end of each module or wish to retake it, as well as non-attending students)
The exam consists of two parts
A written test (6–8 open-ended questions, duration: 2 hours) covering the course content
A follow-up oral exam, available only after passing the written test, through which the grade may be increased by up to 2 points
A bonus of 1 point may be awarded to students who attend and report during the oral exam on the course (associated with “Community Health Promotion”) titled “Psychology Services in the Local Healthcare System: Models of Operation, Experiences, and Best Practices”, taught by Dr. Gianluca Farfaneti (AUSL della Romagna). The course is open to all Master’s degree students and also aims to introduce the TPV (Professional Training Program) within the National Health Service (SSN). (The schedule and syllabus will be available in September.)
The final evaluation, graded out of thirty, will take into account the following aspects: a) Completeness of the answers b) Ability to critically analyze the content learned c) Ability to make connections between theoretical concepts and apply them to the analysis of real-world cases d) Formal quality of the written exam.
Honors (cum laude) may be awarded if satisfactory performance is achieved in all the criteria above.
Registration via the Studenti Online portal is required.
ERASMUS students may take the exam in English.
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 (available on IOL online Platform), scientific papers, online bibliographic sources.
Office hours
See the website of Elvira Cicognani
See the website of Francesca Esposito
SDGs


This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.