24676 - Psychology of Communication in Health-Related Contexts

Learning outcomes

The goal of the course is the acquisition of the main concepts of communication strategies in order to enhance the interpersonal dynamics in clinical context. The specific focus of the course regards:

-           verbal/non-verbal communication (information, leadership, persuasive communication, “appeal to fear”);

-           the role of group dynamics and social influence in modeling individual behavior

-           mental representation of the concept of health and disease in connection with life style of the subject (risks perception; vulnerability; unrealistic optimism).

Furthermore, the course aims to provide the instruments to improve the compliance in the patient; to give an empathic support to psychological needs of the patient; to interact in professional contexts with linguistic property.

Course contents

- Communication and information; leadership; persuasive communication; appeal to fear. - Group dynamics and social conditioning processes. - Mental representation of the concept of health and illness. - Compliance and empathy. - Odontophobia: psychological features.

Readings/Bibliography

- Schacter D.L., Gilbert D.T., Wegner D.M., Pychology, Worth Publishers, New York and Basingstoke, 2010.

or, in alternative,

- Gerrig R.J., Zimbardo P.G., Psychology and Life, 19th edition, Pearson Education. Inc., 2010.

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Assessment methods

The exame of Generlal Psychology consists in a multiple choice test. The test lasts for 20 minutes and contains 20 multiple choice questions.

To pass the exame, students must answer at least 12 questions correctly. The final risult of the Integrated course is determined by the arithmetic mean of the single marks gained in the exames composing the Integrated course.

Teaching tools

Slides; readings.  Further information relative to the course, as well as any supplemental course material (lecture slides, etc), will be available online at
http://campus.unibo.it/ .

Office hours

See the website of Maria Paola Zamagni