The course aims to provide the basic scientific-disciplinary skills, concerning the study of the main functions (cognitive, emotional and motor) through which the individual interacts with the environment. It also offers basic knowledge about the history of psychology and the methods and techniques of psychological research. Through laboratory activities and seminars, students will be able to make direct experience of the techniques of investigation applied to topics relevant in educational settings.
By the study of General Psychology the student will be able to achieve the following training objectives.
Knowledge and understanding
- Understand the epistemological basis of General Psychology;
- Understand the main theoretical approaches and methods for the study of cognitive and affective systems;
- Understand the research methodology of General Psychology;
Applying knowledge and understanding
- Apply knowledge on typical cognitive functioning in educational settings;
- Use research methodology and ethics knowledge to design, implement and discuss research data in educational settings
Making judgements
- -Develop a critical thinking and make comparisons between the different approaches for educational scopes;
- -Conceptualize theoretical approaches on cognition according to the modern perspective of neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience;
Communication skills
- Read and understand a scientific article;
- Disseminate research data to expert (colleagues, professionals, clinicians) and non-expert (e.g., parents) audiences;
Learning skills:
- Apply research methods to foster problem solving in educational contexts (e.g., bibliographic search skills, hypothesis formulation and testing, data analysis, etc.)
- Promote the use of scientific research in educational settings.
By the study of General Psychology the student will be able to achieve the following training objectives.
Knowledge and understanding
- Understand the epistemological basis of General Psychology;
- Understand the main theoretical approaches and methods for the study of cognitive and affective systems;
- Understand the research methodology of General Psychology;
Applying knowledge and understanding
- Apply knowledge on typical cognitive functioning in educational settings;
- Use research methodology and ethics knowledge to design, implement and discuss research data in educational settings
Making judgements
- -Develop a critical thinking and make comparisons between the different approaches for educational scopes;
- -Conceptualize theoretical approaches on cognition according to the modern perspective of neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience;
Communication skills
- Read and understand a scientific article;
- Disseminate research data to expert (colleagues, professionals, clinicians) and non-expert (e.g., parents) audiences;
Learning skills:
- Apply research methods to foster problem solving in educational contexts (e.g., bibliographic search skills, hypothesis formulation and testing, data analysis, etc.)
- Promote the use of scientific research in educational settings.
teacher profile teaching materials
Main contents: 1) Historical introduction and research methods: It will be illustrated the historical origins of psychology as a scientific discipline, as well as the classic theoretical frameworks to the study of psychology. The research methods of experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience will also be presented. 2) Brain and behavior: It will be introduced some basic concepts about the functioning of the brain, discussing how this knowledge has influenced the study of behavior in psychology. 3) Sensation and perception: Presentation of the main theoretical models to the study of sensation and perception; In-depth analysis of the mechanisms that control perception across sensory modalities for understanding our environment. 4) Attention: Introduction to the main theoretical models and mechanisms involved in the process of selecting information from the environment for subsequent processing. 5) Conditioning and learning: Introduction to the main theoretical models and in-depth analysis of the mechanisms that make it possible learning processes. 6) Memory: Introduction to the main theoretical models (i.e., memory systems) and in-depth analysis of the mechanisms that regulate the processing, storage and retrieval of information. 7) Thinking and reasoning: Introduction to the main theoretical models and in-depth analysis of the mechanisms that fulfil functions related to concept formation, decision making and problem solving. 8) Language: Introduction to the main theoretical models and analysis of language functions that allow communication and sharing of knowledge. 9) Intelligence: Introduction to the main theoretical models and analysis of the factors that determine intelligence, the component of the intelligence and instruments for measuring intelligence. 10) Motivation: Introduction to the main theoretical models and analysis of the main forms of motivation that guide the individual behavior. 11) Emotions: Introduction to the main theoretical models and mechanisms by which affective systems modulate human behavior. 13) Personality: Introduction to the main theoretical models describing and defining personality.
Part of the program is dedicated to early childhood and applications to educational settings for children
1) Coon, D., Mitterer, J.O. (2020 -in corso di stampa- Edizione italiana a cura di Stefano Mastandrea e Sabrina Fagioli). Psicologia generale. UTET, Torino
2) Cannoni, E. (2017). Il disegno dei bambini. Carocci editore, Roma.
ATTENTION!
Students are not required to study some parts of the primary textboox “Psicologia Generale”, di Coon & Mitterer (Edizione a cura di S. Mastandrea e S. Fagioli). Please check in the table below chapters and/or paragraphs that may be skipped:
CAPITOLO 2, Cervello e comportamento
Only the following paragraphs are required:
All 2.5, including :
2.5.1 Gli emisferi cerebrali
2.5.2 La specializzazione emisferica
2.5.3 I lobi della corteccia cerebrale
Study also 2.6.4 Il sistema limbico
CAPITOLO 3, Sensazione e realtà
Only the following paragraphs are required:
3.2 La vista
3.3 Percezione dei colori
3.4 Adattamento al buio
3.5 L’udito
CAPITOLO 5, Percepire il mondo
All the chapter is required EXCEPT:
5.9 Percezione extrasensoriale e fenomeni paranormali
CAPITOLO 6, Stati di coscienza
This chapter is NOT required
CAPITOLO 7, Condizionamento e apprendimento
All the chapter is required EXCEPT:
7.7 Rinforzo Parziale: Las Vegas, la gabbia di Skinner per l’uomo?
CAPITOLO 9, Pensiero e immagini mentali
All the chapter is required EXCEPT:
9.4.4 Ciclo inferenziale
9.6.3 Sillogismi lineari
CAPITOLO 12 Motivazione
All the chapter is required EXCEPT:
12.2.2 Meccanismi cerebrali della fame
Programme
The first part of the course will address the historical foundation of Psychology as a scientific discipline, the principal theoretical approaches and the research methods of psychology. The second part will deepen understanding of the cognitive and affective functioning within the framework offered by experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience. The third part of the course will focus on application of theory and procedures of general psychology through laboratory activities.Main contents: 1) Historical introduction and research methods: It will be illustrated the historical origins of psychology as a scientific discipline, as well as the classic theoretical frameworks to the study of psychology. The research methods of experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience will also be presented. 2) Brain and behavior: It will be introduced some basic concepts about the functioning of the brain, discussing how this knowledge has influenced the study of behavior in psychology. 3) Sensation and perception: Presentation of the main theoretical models to the study of sensation and perception; In-depth analysis of the mechanisms that control perception across sensory modalities for understanding our environment. 4) Attention: Introduction to the main theoretical models and mechanisms involved in the process of selecting information from the environment for subsequent processing. 5) Conditioning and learning: Introduction to the main theoretical models and in-depth analysis of the mechanisms that make it possible learning processes. 6) Memory: Introduction to the main theoretical models (i.e., memory systems) and in-depth analysis of the mechanisms that regulate the processing, storage and retrieval of information. 7) Thinking and reasoning: Introduction to the main theoretical models and in-depth analysis of the mechanisms that fulfil functions related to concept formation, decision making and problem solving. 8) Language: Introduction to the main theoretical models and analysis of language functions that allow communication and sharing of knowledge. 9) Intelligence: Introduction to the main theoretical models and analysis of the factors that determine intelligence, the component of the intelligence and instruments for measuring intelligence. 10) Motivation: Introduction to the main theoretical models and analysis of the main forms of motivation that guide the individual behavior. 11) Emotions: Introduction to the main theoretical models and mechanisms by which affective systems modulate human behavior. 13) Personality: Introduction to the main theoretical models describing and defining personality.
Part of the program is dedicated to early childhood and applications to educational settings for children
Core Documentation
Required textbooks1) Coon, D., Mitterer, J.O. (2020 -in corso di stampa- Edizione italiana a cura di Stefano Mastandrea e Sabrina Fagioli). Psicologia generale. UTET, Torino
2) Cannoni, E. (2017). Il disegno dei bambini. Carocci editore, Roma.
ATTENTION!
Students are not required to study some parts of the primary textboox “Psicologia Generale”, di Coon & Mitterer (Edizione a cura di S. Mastandrea e S. Fagioli). Please check in the table below chapters and/or paragraphs that may be skipped:
CAPITOLO 2, Cervello e comportamento
Only the following paragraphs are required:
All 2.5, including :
2.5.1 Gli emisferi cerebrali
2.5.2 La specializzazione emisferica
2.5.3 I lobi della corteccia cerebrale
Study also 2.6.4 Il sistema limbico
CAPITOLO 3, Sensazione e realtà
Only the following paragraphs are required:
3.2 La vista
3.3 Percezione dei colori
3.4 Adattamento al buio
3.5 L’udito
CAPITOLO 5, Percepire il mondo
All the chapter is required EXCEPT:
5.9 Percezione extrasensoriale e fenomeni paranormali
CAPITOLO 6, Stati di coscienza
This chapter is NOT required
CAPITOLO 7, Condizionamento e apprendimento
All the chapter is required EXCEPT:
7.7 Rinforzo Parziale: Las Vegas, la gabbia di Skinner per l’uomo?
CAPITOLO 9, Pensiero e immagini mentali
All the chapter is required EXCEPT:
9.4.4 Ciclo inferenziale
9.6.3 Sillogismi lineari
CAPITOLO 12 Motivazione
All the chapter is required EXCEPT:
12.2.2 Meccanismi cerebrali della fame
Type of delivery of the course
The course is articulated in 36 hours of lectures and 18 of workshop, with activity either in presence and on line. Class attendance is optional but highly recommended. Attending and non-attending students can register on the dedicated page of the General Psychology course in the "Formonline" platform to obtaining course material (i.e., the slides presented during the lessons), participating in discussion forums and performing practical exercises proposed in the classroom. In case of extension of COVID-19 health emergency, the course will be held online via Microsoft Teams environment.Type of evaluation
The final exam will consist of a written test including 35 multiple-choice questions (30 questions focusing on the main text “Psicologia Generale” + 5 questions focusing on the secondary book (“Il disegno dei bambini”, see below “Required textbooks” section) and an oral integration for those who pass the written exam (>18). The online exam registration is mandatory by the due deadline for each exam. The exam registration is due online on the Student Portal. Students with disabilities must contact the teacher at least two weeks before the exam to define exam arrangement. In case of extension of COVID-19 health emergency, the exam will be written and held online via the e-learning platform Formonline, Microsoft Teams and Respondus Lockdown Browser. teacher profile teaching materials
Programme
The following topic will be addressed in the Course: 1) children's drawing and meaning of graphical representation; 2) drawing and communication; 3) the development of the children's drawing; 4) illustration of the main drawing test for assessing personality and cognitive functioning.Core Documentation
Eleonora Cannoni. "Il Disegno dei Bambini". Carocci EditoreType of delivery of the course
The course is articulated in 18 hours of practical activities. The activities will be held both in the classroom and online. Class attendance is optional but highly recommended. Attending and non-attending students can register on the dedicated page of the General Psychology course in the "Formonline" platform to obtaining course material (i.e., the slides presented during the lessons), participating in discussion forums and performing practical exercises proposed in the classroom. The exercises aim at applying the knowledge gained during the first part of the course. They deal mainly with the application of the research methodology to the study and measurement of cognitive processes in educational settings.Type of evaluation
The final exam will consist of a written test including 5 multiple-choice questions and an oral integration. The online exam registration is mandatory by the due deadline for each exam. The exam registration is due online on the Student Portal. Students with disabilities must contact the teacher at least two weeks before the exam to define exam arrangement. In case of extension of COVID-19 health emergency, the exam will be written and held online via the e-learning platform Formonline, Microsoft Teams and Respondus Lockdown Browser.