02207 - General Psychology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will acquire theoretical and methodological knowledge of cognitive processes (perception, attention, learning, memory, decision-making), as well as motivational and emotional processes underlying individual and group behavior, both in conditions of health and illness. In addition, students will  acquire knowledge of the mechanisms involved in typical responses to stress and pain, the recognition and regulation of their own and others’ emotions, and the role of inter-individual differences and personality within the healthcare context. By the end of the course, students will understand the relationship between cognitive, emotional, and relational processes in medical practice.

Course contents

During the course, the following topics will be addressed:

- The history of psychology and the development of the main psychological theories

- Research methods in psychology: experimental paradigms and the study of emotional and cognitive processes

- Motivation: the main theoretical models

- Perception, attention, and learning

- Memory and its mechanisms

- Emotions and their regulation: physiological bases of emotions; primary (basic) and secondary emotions; expression, recognition, and regulation of emotions

- Personality: the main theoretical models

- Decision-making processes, heuristics, and cognitive biases

- Stress, coping, burnout, psychological well-being and resilience

Readings/Bibliography

Slides and the scientific articles discussed in class are essential for exam preparation.

Recommended readings:

-Nicoletti R., Rumiati R. e Lotto L. Psicologia, processi cognitivi, teoria e applicazioni. Il Mulino (Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 – history, research methods, perception, attention, learning, memory, problem solving, decision-making processes, and emotions)

- De Beni R., Carretti B., Moè A., Pazzaglia F. Psicologia della personalità e delle differenze individuali. Il Mulino (Chapters 1 and 2: the main approaches to the study of personality; personality and motivation).

- Schacter D., Gilbert D., Nock M., Wegner D. Psicologia generale, Zanichelli (Chapter 13: stress and health). 

 

For further study of the topics, the following texts may be consulted:

Panksepp, D & Davis K.L. (2020). I fondamenti emotivi della personalità. Raffaello Cortina Editore

Bassi M., & Delle Fave A. (2019). Psicologia generale per le professioni medico-sanitarie. UTET.

Pravettoni, G., Vago, G. (2011). Medical decision making. Decidere in ambito sanitario. McGraw-Hill Education

Teaching methods

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

Assessment methods

The course is part of the Integrated Course (I.C.) in General Psychology and Medical Anthropology. To record the final grade for the I.C., students must have passed the exams in General Psychology and Medical Anthropology and obtained eligibility for the course Foundations of Communication in the Medical Profession.

Assessment of learning in the General Psychology course will take place through a written exam consisting of 21 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answers. No penalty is applied for incorrect answers.

Students with learning disorders and temporary or permanent disabilities are invited to contact the dedicated office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti ) as soon as possible in order to agree on appropriate compensatory measures. The request must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the instructor, who will evaluate the suitability of the measures in relation to the course learning objectives.

Teaching tools

Materials presented during lectures, copies of questionnaires, practical exercises, and videos.

Office hours

See the website of Valentina Colonnello