02207 - General Psychology (L-Z)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have acquired:

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

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

Skills for recognizing and regulating emotional processes related to stress and pain responses in adults.

Course contents

Historical and Methodological Introduction: Key theoretical paradigms; the scientific method; relationship with neuroscience.

Attention, Arousal and Consciousness: information selection processing; subcomponents of attention and their biological basis; automatic and voluntary attention; executive control functions; neuropsychological models and attentional deficits following brain injury. Introduction to circadian rhythms and the sleep-wake cycle.

Learning: Classical and operant conditioning; non-associative learning; individual and cultural factors modulating learning.

Memory: Biological bases of memory; stages of information processing; memory models; memory construction; forgetting and interference; interaction between memory and emotion. Short-term memory disorders. Amnesias.

Language: Levels of language: phonetics and phonology, lexicon and morphology, semantics, syntax; language acquisition and development; language as a species-specific human ability; psycholinguistic models: mental lexicon, input pathways, information recognition and selection; aphasias and specific learning disorders.

Emotions and Motivation: Biological bases of emotions and motivation; components of emotional responses; functions of emotions; the relationship between emotions and cognitive processes; emotional expression and health implications; neuropsychology of emotion: the ventromedial frontal syndrome.

Stress: The organism's response to stressful events; acute and chronic stress syndromes: biological, individual, and social mediators of the stress response; coping mechanisms; emotional modulation of stress and pain.

Communication: Verbal and non-verbal communication; effective communication in healthcare settings; psychological factors that may facilitate or hinder the HEALTHCARE PROVIDER–PATIENT RELATIONSHIP and THERAPEUTIC OUTCOME.

Readings/Bibliography

Turatto M (a cura di), PSICOLOGIA GENERALE. Mondadori, 2018 (capitoli 4, 5, 7, 8, 10).

Feldman RS (2017, III ed), PSICOLOGIA GENERALE. McGraw-Hill, 2017 (capitolo 13).

Ladavas E, Berti A, NEUROPSICOLOGIA. Il Mulino, 2020 Bologna

Teaching methods

During lectures, the course content will be thoroughly explored. Additional learning activities will include experiment simulations, video presentations, and participation in practical exercises.

Some topics will be revisited during the General Psychology Laboratory, which is a complementary component of the Integrated Course.

Exam questions will cover all assigned readings and lecture content. Bibliographic references for each topic will be clearly indicated during the course.

Assessment methods

The Integrated Course in General Psychology consists of the General Psychology Course and the General Psychology Laboratory.

The General Psychology Laboratory grants a pass/fail qualification, which is required for the final registration of the exam. The specific procedures for obtaining the qualification are outlined in the dedicated web guides.

The exam for the General Psychology Course will consist of a WRITTEN TEST lasting 45 minutes, composed of three open-ended questions, aimed at verifying:

1. Fundamental knowledge of the development and functioning (in adults without pathological conditions) of core cognitive functions (attention, learning, memory, language), affective processes (emotions, motivation), and relational aspects (communication);

2. Understanding of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes resulting from traumatic or degenerative neurological conditions (e.g., amnesia, aphasia, cognitive decline, attentional syndromes).

Each answer must be concise and precise and will be graded on a scale from 1 to 10. The exam is passed with a minimum total score of 18. Honors (cum laude) will be awarded based on linguistic accuracy, originality, and critical reasoning skills.

Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities:
It is recommended that they contact the appropriate University Office in advance: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en
The office will be responsible for proposing any necessary accommodations to the interested students, which must, in any case, be submitted to the course instructor for approval at least 15 days in advance. The instructor will assess their suitability in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

In-class simulation of classic experiments in General Psychology.

Video presentations featuring case-study patients.

Slides and videos presented during lectures will be uploaded on VIRTUALE.

Office hours

See the website of Michela Mazzetti