02207 - General Psychology (A-K)

Learning outcomes

Students should learn: - general knowledge of cognitive processes (perception, attention, learning, memory, thinking), emotional and motivational (emotions, primary and secondary motivations, stress, frustration and aggression) at the base of behavior individual - essential knowledge of the processes of verbal and nonverbal communication, the structure and functioning of groups (leadership, communication networks, systems of values ​​and opinions), the processes of social influence in face-to-face interactions and group (the decision-making, consolidating and changing attitudes); - skills for the recognition and regulation of processes associated with emotional reactions to stress and pain in adults.

Course contents

OBJECTS AND METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGY-GENERAL: Paradigms and experimental study of cognitive, behavioral, psychophysiological (EEG and ERPs, neuroimaging techniques) measures. LEARNING AND MEMORY: classical conditioning and operant conditioning . Sensory registers, short-term memory, long-term memory. The organization of information in memory. Episodic and semantic memory, declarative and procedural memories. Strategies for storage. Neuropsychological bases of memory and amnesia. EMOTION AND MOTIVATION: Physiological basis of emotion. Subcomponents of emotional responses. Primary emotions (basic) and secondary. Characteristics of basic emotions. Expression and emotion recognition.Primary and secondary motives (affiliation, achievement, etc..), With particular attention to the motivation to work. INTELLIGENCE AND PERSONALITY ': Different approaches to the study of personality. Taxonomic models of basic personality traits. The personality inventories. The assessment of cognitive abilities. Contemporary theories of intelligence. IQ and specific abilities. The intelligence tests.
STRESS AND COPING: Stressors: definition and characteristics. Acute and chronic stress. Physiological reactions to stress. Psychological reactions to stress. Coping strategies. Burn-out syndrome. Stress and work motivation. Stress and conflict in the workplace.

Readings/Bibliography

Textbook: Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner (2017) Chapters to be studied: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 (from page 320 to 339), 10, 12, 13.

Additionally, all students must delve deeper into the content using the materials provided by the instructor (which correspond to the lecture slides). These materials, in addition to summarizing the information present in the textbook, offer some additional insights that may be subject to evaluation.

Teaching methods

Lectures and illustration of psychological testing materials.

Assessment methods

The exam aims to assess the achievement of the main educational objectives, with particular attention to evaluating the student's knowledge regarding the main theoretical models and measurement tools used in the study of behavior and cognitive processes.

The examination format for the Integrated Course includes a written test with 30 multiple-choice questions, each having 5 answer alternatives (with a penalty of 0.25 points for each incorrect answer).

The General Psychology Laboratory provides an eligibility requirement necessary for the verbalization of the Integrated Course in General Psychology. The methods for obtaining eligibility are described on the instructors' pages.

The score on the written test may be averaged with an additional oral examination (upon the explicit request of the instructors or the student who has achieved a score of 18 or higher on the written test). Honors will be awarded exclusively after the possible oral integration.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint slides, softwares to illustrate the experimental tasks, exercises in psychological testing.

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Maria Russo