02207 - General Psychology (A-K)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires:

• General knowledge of cognitive processes (perception, attention, learning, memory, thinking), as well as emotional and motivational processes (emotions, motivations, stress, frustration and aggression, primary and secondary motivations) underlying individual behavior;

• Essential knowledge of verbal and nonverbal communication processes, the structure and functioning of groups (leadership, communication networks, value and opinion systems), and the processes of social influence in face-to-face and group interactions (decision-making, attitude formation and change);

• Skills for recognizing and regulating emotional processes associated with stress and pain responses in adults.

Course contents

OBJECTS AND METHODS OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY: Experimental paradigms and the study of cognitive processes, behavioral and psychophysiological measures, and neuroimaging techniques.

LEARNING AND MEMORY: Classical conditioning and operant (or instrumental) conditioning.

Sensory register, short-term (or working) memory, long-term memory. Organization of information in memory. Episodic and semantic memory, declarative and procedural memory. Strategies for memorization. Neuropsychological bases of memory and amnesias.

EMOTIONS AND MOTIVATION: Physiological bases of emotions. Subcomponents of emotional responses. Primary (basic) and secondary emotions. Characteristics of basic emotions. Expression and recognition of emotions. Cultural modulation of emotions. Mechanisms of pain perception and modulation factors.

INTELLIGENCE AND PERSONALITY: Different approaches to the study of personality. Taxonomic models of basic personality traits. Personality inventories. Assessment of cognitive abilities. Contemporary theories of intelligence. IQ and specific abilities. Intelligence tests.

STRESS AND COPING: Stressful events: definition and characteristics. Acute and chronic stress. Physiological reactions to stress. Psychological reactions to stress. Coping strategies. Burnout syndrome.

Readings/Bibliography

Slides provided by the instructor and presented during the lectures. These slides, besides summarizing the information found in the textbook indicated below, also include supplementary material that may be subject to evaluation.

Feldman R.S., PSICOLOGIA GENERALE. McGraw-Hill. Psicologia generale. La scienza della mente e del pensiero (a cura di T. Marzi A. Peru, R. Merlini (Traduttore), L. Tasso (Traduttore). Ed McGraw Hill

E. Ladavas, A. Berti. Neuropsicologia. Il Mulino 2020 Bologna Ed. Carrocci 2021 Roma

Teaching methods

The course includes lectures and practical exercises carried out in class by students individually or in small groups.

Assessment methods

The written test consists of 31 multiple-choice questions (time limit: 20 minutes) with 4 answer options each. The selected answer must be the correct or most complete/exhaustive option, which is awarded 1 point; no penalty will be applied for incorrect answers.

The maximum score achievable by providing all correct answers is 30 cum laude; the exam is considered passed with a minimum score of 18/30 (18 correct answers).

The use of any support materials such as textbooks, notes, or electronic devices is not allowed during the test.

Once the test results are communicated, those who wish to decline their grade must notify the instructor within 3 days by sending an email with the subject line "GRADE REJECTION." Six General Psychology exam sessions are scheduled throughout the Academic Year and published on AlmaEsami.

The General Psychology Laboratory provides an eligibility certification necessary for the formal recording of the Integrated Course (IC) in General Psychology. The procedures for obtaining eligibility are described on the Laboratory’s dedicated page.

Therefore, the grade for the General Psychology exam can only be recorded after eligibility for the General Psychology Laboratory has been obtained.

Teaching tools

Exercises on psychological tests.

Teaching materials: the materials presented during the lessons will be made available online on Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Ida Gobbini