The course aims to provide students with the basic notions of persuasive communication combining the theoretical tools of the discipline that traditionally has dealt with the persuasive uses of language, rhetoric, with the empirical results achieved in the context of the modern cognitive sciences. Specifically, the cognitive foundations of the persuasive uses of language are analyzed with reference to a particular tool of communication: storytelling.
Through the discussion of case studies, such as scientific communication, marketing, advertising and political communication, the course aims to provide students with a general understanding of the fundamental cognitive mechanisms underlying storytelling.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- use the key theoretical concepts developed in the context of rhetoric.
- read and understand experimental scientific articles dealing with issues relating to the cognitive foundations of persuasive processes.
- transfer the theoretical concepts to the analysis of case studies.
Through the discussion of case studies, such as scientific communication, marketing, advertising and political communication, the course aims to provide students with a general understanding of the fundamental cognitive mechanisms underlying storytelling.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- use the key theoretical concepts developed in the context of rhetoric.
- read and understand experimental scientific articles dealing with issues relating to the cognitive foundations of persuasive processes.
- transfer the theoretical concepts to the analysis of case studies.
teacher profile teaching materials
Epidemiology of beliefs: how ideas spread
Emotions and the spread of ideas
Memetics
Cultural evolution.
Psychology of fake news
Conspiracy theories: cognitive explanations
Rhetoric from Aristotle to the present day
Persuasion and storytelling
Cognitive foundations of storytelling
Application cases: science communication, marketing, advertising, political communication.
Libro obbligatorio:
- Piazza F. (2004) Linguaggio, persuasione e verità. La retorica del Novecento, Carocci, Roma.
1 libro a scelta tra:
- Arielli E., Bottazzini P. (2018) Idee virali. Perché i pensieri si diffondono. Il Mulino, Bologna.
- Brotherton R. (2015) Menti sospettose. Perché siamo tutti complottisti. Bollati Boringhieri, Torino.
- Gottschall J. (2021) Il lato oscuro delle storie. Come lo storytelling cementa le società e talvolta le distrugge. Bollati Boringhieri, Torino.
2 articoli a scelta tra i seguenti:
- Bilandzic, H., & Busselle, R. (2013). Narrative persuasion. In “The Sage handbook of persuasion: Developments in theory and practice”, 2, pp. 200-219.
[https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3a57/4d2e8dc561c54549e9f9ba854d81769e79e7.pdf]
- Bilandzic, H., Kinnebrock, S., & Klingler, M. (2020). The emotional effects of science narratives: A theoretical framework. Media and Communication, 8(1), 151-163.
[https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/download/2602/2602]
- Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2021). The psychology of fake news. Trends in cognitive sciences.
[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661321000516]
Programme
Students are encouraged to subscribe to the course's Moodle page to receive all updates from faculty.Epidemiology of beliefs: how ideas spread
Emotions and the spread of ideas
Memetics
Cultural evolution.
Psychology of fake news
Conspiracy theories: cognitive explanations
Rhetoric from Aristotle to the present day
Persuasion and storytelling
Cognitive foundations of storytelling
Application cases: science communication, marketing, advertising, political communication.
Core Documentation
Programma da 12 cfu: 2 libri + 2 articoliLibro obbligatorio:
- Piazza F. (2004) Linguaggio, persuasione e verità. La retorica del Novecento, Carocci, Roma.
1 libro a scelta tra:
- Arielli E., Bottazzini P. (2018) Idee virali. Perché i pensieri si diffondono. Il Mulino, Bologna.
- Brotherton R. (2015) Menti sospettose. Perché siamo tutti complottisti. Bollati Boringhieri, Torino.
- Gottschall J. (2021) Il lato oscuro delle storie. Come lo storytelling cementa le società e talvolta le distrugge. Bollati Boringhieri, Torino.
2 articoli a scelta tra i seguenti:
- Bilandzic, H., & Busselle, R. (2013). Narrative persuasion. In “The Sage handbook of persuasion: Developments in theory and practice”, 2, pp. 200-219.
[https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3a57/4d2e8dc561c54549e9f9ba854d81769e79e7.pdf]
- Bilandzic, H., Kinnebrock, S., & Klingler, M. (2020). The emotional effects of science narratives: A theoretical framework. Media and Communication, 8(1), 151-163.
[https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/download/2602/2602]
- Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2021). The psychology of fake news. Trends in cognitive sciences.
[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661321000516]
Reference Bibliography
see booksAttendance
attendance not mandatory, but strongly recommendedType of evaluation
Individual written paper. Possible topics to choose from will be announced in class. The paper must be submitted 15 days before the date you decide to take the exam. The term paper is an individual written paper that addresses one of the topics covered during the lectures. The two textbooks (for those taking the 6 cfu exam), or the two textbooks and two articles of your choice (for those taking the 12 cfu exam) must interact in writing the paper. You can, of course, also refer to the in-depth materials made available on Moodle. Female students and students taking the 12 cfu exam must prepare a paper of minimum 8 max 10 pages, excluding final bibliography (i.e.: the bibliography is not calculated for the achievement of the minimum number of pages required, but must still be included at the end of the paper). Female students taking the 6 cfu exam must prepare a 5-page paper, excluding final bibliography (i.e.: the bibliography is not calculated for reaching the minimum number of pages required, but must still be included at the end of the paper). teacher profile teaching materials
Emotions and transmissions of ideas
Memetics
Cultural evolution
Psychology of fake news
Consiracy beliefs and their cognitive foundations
Rhetoric: from Aristotle to modern theories
Persuasion and storytelling
Cognitive foundations of storytelling
Case studies: scientific communication, marketing, advertising, political communication.
- Piazza F. (2004) Linguaggio, persuasione e verità. La retorica del Novecento, Carocci, Roma.
1 book among:
- Arielli E., Bottazzini P. (2018) Idee virali. Perché i pensieri si diffondono. Il Mulino, Bologna.
- Brotherton R. (2015) Menti sospettose. Perché siamo tutti complottisti. Bollati Boringhieri, Torino.
- Gottschall J. (2021) Il lato oscuro delle storie. Come lo storytelling cementa le società e talvolta le distrugge. Bollati Boringhieri, Torino.
2 a articles among:
- Bilandzic, H., & Busselle, R. (2013). Narrative persuasion. In “The Sage handbook of persuasion: Developments in theory and practice”, 2, pp. 200-219.
[https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3a57/4d2e8dc561c54549e9f9ba854d81769e79e7.pdf]
- Bilandzic, H., Kinnebrock, S., & Klingler, M. (2020). The emotional effects of science narratives: A theoretical framework. Media and Communication, 8(1), 151-163.
[https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/download/2602/2602]
- Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2021). The psychology of fake news. Trends in cognitive sciences.
[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661321000516]
Programme
Epidemiology of Beliefs: How Ideas SpreadEmotions and transmissions of ideas
Memetics
Cultural evolution
Psychology of fake news
Consiracy beliefs and their cognitive foundations
Rhetoric: from Aristotle to modern theories
Persuasion and storytelling
Cognitive foundations of storytelling
Case studies: scientific communication, marketing, advertising, political communication.
Core Documentation
Mandatory book:- Piazza F. (2004) Linguaggio, persuasione e verità. La retorica del Novecento, Carocci, Roma.
1 book among:
- Arielli E., Bottazzini P. (2018) Idee virali. Perché i pensieri si diffondono. Il Mulino, Bologna.
- Brotherton R. (2015) Menti sospettose. Perché siamo tutti complottisti. Bollati Boringhieri, Torino.
- Gottschall J. (2021) Il lato oscuro delle storie. Come lo storytelling cementa le società e talvolta le distrugge. Bollati Boringhieri, Torino.
2 a articles among:
- Bilandzic, H., & Busselle, R. (2013). Narrative persuasion. In “The Sage handbook of persuasion: Developments in theory and practice”, 2, pp. 200-219.
[https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3a57/4d2e8dc561c54549e9f9ba854d81769e79e7.pdf]
- Bilandzic, H., Kinnebrock, S., & Klingler, M. (2020). The emotional effects of science narratives: A theoretical framework. Media and Communication, 8(1), 151-163.
[https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/download/2602/2602]
- Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2021). The psychology of fake news. Trends in cognitive sciences.
[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661321000516]
Reference Bibliography
.Type of delivery of the course
in personAttendance
.Type of evaluation
Individual written paper. The possible topics will be provided during classes. The paper must be sent 15 days before the exam date. The essay is an individual written paper that addresses one of the topics discussed during lessons. In drafting the paper, it is necessary to make the two textbooks interact (for those who take the 6-cfu exam), or to make interact the two textbooks and the two articles (for those who take the 12-cfu exam). Lenght of the paper: - min 8 max 10 pages (for those who take the 12-cfu exam); - 5 pages (for those who take the 6-cfu exam);