46487 - Psychology of Intercultural Communication (1)

Learning outcomes

The course focuses on the effects of cultures and of languages on cognitive processes.

Course contents

The course aims to introduce students to the effects of cultures and languages on cognitive processes. After an overview of the paradigms and methodologies of research in psychology, the recent empirical research aimed at examining the following topics will be discussed:

- Embodied and grounded cognition;

- Extended mind, extended body;

- Nature and culture;

- WEIRD: universalism in psychology;

- Perception, attention and cultures;

- Categorization and cultural variability;

- Thought processes and cultures;

- Communication and cultures;

- Language, languages and body;

- Linguistic relativity;

- Words as tools (Word as Tools);

- The case of abstract words;

- Stereotypes.

The different themes will be explored through group simulations of the research work (identification of the problem; planning of the experimental design; data collection; analysis and interpretation of the results; dissemination, not only in scientific contexts).

Circumscribing the theoretical question and selecting the most appropriate methods, we will address central and current issues of psychology related to the influence of cultural processes on cognitive activity and their impact on social interactions.

 

The course will take place in the first semester - second period, from Thursday, November 14 (until Wednesday, December 18).

> Tuesday, on Wednesday 9-11 a.m.; on Thursday 11-13 p.m.

Classroom B, via Azzo Gardino, 23.

Readings/Bibliography

1) Book Liuzza, M., Cimatti, F. e Borghi, A. Lingue, corpo e pensiero: le ricerche contemporanee. Carocci, 2010.

Alternatively: Heinrich, J. e Heine, S.J. (2010). The weirdest people in the world? Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2010.

or: Prinz, J. (2011). Beyond human nature. How culture and experience shape the human mind. London, New York: Penguin (three sections of your choice: Traits, Knowledge, Language, Thinking, Feelings, Values).

2) Articles or chapters (two of your choice)

- Lotto, L. e Rumiati, R. Introduzione alla psicologia della comunicazione. Il Mulino, 2013 (II edizione). (Cap. 4-15)

- Anolli, L. Fondamenti di Psicologia della Comunicazione, il Mulino, 2012. (cap. “L’approccio psicologico: comunicazione come interazione”)

- Zucchermaglio, C. Psicologia culturale dei gruppi, Carocci, 2015.. (cap. “Psicologia culturale e gruppi”)

- Pesciarelli, F., Scorolli, C., & Cacciari, C. (epub 2019). Neural correlates of the implicit processing of grammatical and stereotypical gender violations: A masked and unmasked priming study. Biological Psychology. 146:107714. (disponibile online accedendo da unibo).

- Scorolli, C. (2019). Re-enacting the Bodily Self on Stage: Embodied Cognition meets Psychoanalysis. Frontiers in Psychology (disponibile online).

- Borghi, A.M., Scorolli, C., Caligiore, D., Baldassarre, G. & Tummolini, L. (2013). The embodied mind extended: Using words as social tools. Frontiers in Psychology. 4:214 (disponibile online). 

- Paglieri, F., Borghi, A.M., Colzato, L.S., Hommel, B. & Scorolli, C. (2013) Heaven can wait. How religion modulates temporal discounting. Psychological Research, 77, 738-747. (disponibile online accedendo da unibo).

 

(3) For students not attending the course, to be added:

Lotto, L. e Rumiati, R. Introduzione alla psicologia della comunicazione. Il Mulino, 2013 (II edizione). CAP. 1-8; 11; 15.

 

> For students attending the course: slides, possible other materials and information on team-works will be available on the IOL platform.

For students attending the course, other possible scientific articles (different from the ones reported above) will be identified and indicated during the course according to the specific interests of the students. In this regard, the databases of interest for the psychological field are: http://www2.sba.unibo.it/cgi-bin/bdati/banchedati.pl?keys=Psicologia (ad es.: PsycINFO; Pubmed; Scopus; Web of science). Per articoli in italiano: Giornale Italiano di Psicologia: https://www.rivisteweb.it/issn/0390-5349 o Sistemi Intelligenti: https://www.rivisteweb.it/issn/1120-955

Teaching methods

- Lectures;
- group exercises aimed at learning to plan and evaluate an experiment;
- group presentations followed by discussions.

Assessment methods

The (oral) exam will be aimed at verifying the achievement of a critical vision of the topics addressed during the lecture.

Evaluations:

Excellence for

• excellent knowledge of the acquired contents;
• critical remarks on those contents;
• congruity of the used terminology;
• acquisition of a consistent-organic vision;
• ability to orientate between different theoretical and methodological views.

Average for

• a mnemonic knowledge of the subject;
• synthesis and analysis articulated with a correct language, but not always appropriate.

Insufficient in case of

• knowledge gaps and / or inappropriate language;
• poor mastering of bibliographic materials provided during the course.
  

Teaching tools

Lectures with power point presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Claudia Scorolli