85060 - General Psycology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have a thorough understanding of sensory, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes. They will comprehend how these processes integrate into mental representations, which contribute to the development and organization of behaviors exhibited by the individual in the ongoing process of adaptation and interaction with the environment.

Course contents

Lectures (32 hours)

1. Course introduction

2. Introduction to general and sport psychology: definitions, historical background, areas of application

3. Experimental methods in psychology: observational and experimental methods, overview of main research techniques and tools in psychology

4. Executive functions and excellence in sport: definition and importance of executive functions, application to sports performance

5. Space, action, and the body: the relationship between spatial perception, the body, and movement in motor activities

6. Voluntary movement: psychological and neurophysiological bases of voluntary movement, motor control, and coordination

7. Affordances: the concept of affordance, perception of possibilities for action in the sporting environment

8. Attentional processes: selective, divided, and sustained attention; attention and athletic performance

9. Learning and memory: main forms of learning (conditioning, observational learning) and memory relevant to sport

10. Working memory in sport: the role of working memory in motor and sports performance

11. Emotions and sport: emotion theories, emotion regulation, emotions and performance, management of anxiety and stress in competition

Laboratory / Practical Activities (16 hours)

• Replication of an experimental study (Passarello et al., 2025):

  • Students, organized in small groups, will replicate a scientific study involving young individuals engaged in physical and sports activity, following the protocol by Passarello et al. (2025).

  • Psychological instruments (IPAQ, FAS, m-FPT, etc.) will be administered; data will be collected, analyzed, and discussed in class. A short research report will be produced.

• Presentation and discussion of scientific articles:

  • Each group will select and present a recent scientific article on topics related to sport psychology, followed by methodological and applied discussion with classmates and the instructor.

• Plenary discussion:

  • In-class sharing of critical issues and reflections, in-depth analysis of the links between theory and practice, development of group work and presentation skills.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture slides provided by the instructor

Selected scientific articles indicated during the course

Recommended textbook:
Mandolesi L. Manuale di psicologia generale dello sport [General Psychology of Sport Manual]. Il Mulino, 2017

Teaching methods

Interactive frontal lectures with practical examples, case discussions, audiovisual supports

Laboratory activities in small groups: replication of a scientific study, oral presentations, practical exercises, and plenary discussions

Active student engagement throughout all phases of the course, with particular focus on developing critical, practical, and communication skills

Assessment methods

Final written exam with multiple-choice and open-ended questions on topics covered in lectures and laboratory activities

Assessment of laboratory activities (research report and presentations) as an integral part of the final grade

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Lecture slides provided by the instructor

Recommended textbook

Scientific articles

Videos and multimedia materials selected from YouTube and other relevant sources

Practical examples, exercises, report templates provided during laboratory activities

 

Final Note

The course consists of 5 ECTS credits, corresponding to 32 hours of lectures and 16 hours of laboratory/practical activities, as required by the new curriculum.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Pavan