AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge of scientific psychology and the main cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes underlying human functioning. Through the study of the theoretical and methodological foundations of the discipline, students will develop the ability to analyze and interpret human behavior from a psychological perspective, acquiring useful tools for understanding the processes that influence interpersonal relationships and patient behavior in healthcare and dental settings.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

understand the origins and development of psychology as a scientific discipline;

understand the main methods of psychological research and the criteria used to measure psychological phenomena;

describe the organization and functioning of the cognitive system;

understand the major psychological processes, including sensation, perception, attention, consciousness, learning, memory, language, motivation, and emotion;

explain the relationships among different cognitive functions;

interpret human behavior in light of the underlying cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes;

acquire descriptive and analytical skills related to the main constructs of general psychology;

apply basic psychological knowledge to understanding the dynamics of the healthcare professional–patient relationship.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is delivered through lectures supported by supplementary teaching materials. During classes, practical examples and guided discussions will be used to facilitate understanding of theoretical concepts and their implications for healthcare practice.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or other special educational needs: Students holding valid certification for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities, or other special educational needs are invited to contact both the course instructor and the Department Inclusion Coordinator (Prof. Nicola Girtler – nicolagirtler@unige.it) at the beginning of the course in order to discuss any necessary adjustments to the teaching methods. Such adaptations will be designed to respect the learning objectives of the course while taking into account individual learning needs and styles.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction to Scientific Psychology

Origins and development of scientific psychology.

Major schools of thought and theoretical approaches.

Contributions of Fechner, Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson, and Gestalt psychology.

Research Methods in Psychology

The scientific method in psychology.

Measurement of psychological phenomena.

Fundamentals of psychophysics.

Biological Bases of Behavior

Organization of the nervous system.

Functional anatomy of the brain.

Brain plasticity.

Sensation and Perception

Sensory processes.

Visual and auditory perception.

Organizational principles of perception.

Attention and Consciousness

Attentional processes.

States of consciousness.

Learning

Classical conditioning.

Operant conditioning.

Major theories and models of learning.

Memory

Memory systems and processes.

Short-term and long-term memory.

Forgetting and factors influencing memory performance.

Language and Communication

Verbal and nonverbal communication.

Origin and evolution of language.

Language disorders.

Motivation and Emotion

Motivational processes.

Arousal and activation regulation.

Emotions and major theoretical approaches.

Cognitive theories of emotion and appraisal.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Students may choose one of the following textbooks:

Schacter D.L., Gilbert D.T., Nock M.K., Wegner D.M., *Psychology*, Italian 2nd edition edited by L. Piccardi, Zanichelli, 2018.

Ciccarelli S.K., White J.N., *Psychology*, Italian 6th edition edited by P. Ricciardelli and C. Iani, Pearson, 2022.

Holt N., Bremner A., Vliek M., Sutherland E., Passer M.W., Smith R.E., *Psychology*, Italian 3rd edition edited by G. Gronchi, T. Marzi, and A. Peru, McGraw-Hill, 2023.

Any supplementary material provided by the instructor during the course forms an integral part of the examination syllabus and will be made available on AulaWeb.

For students with SLD: Any necessary adaptations to study materials (e.g., accessible versions or alternative formats) should be arranged with the course instructor.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LORENZO FERRANDO (President)

MARIANO MARTINI (President)

IRENE SCHIAVETTI (President)

ALESSIO SIGNORI

NICOLA GIOVANNI GIRTLER (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Student learning will be assessed through:

a self-assessment test at the end of the course, consisting of 31 multiple-choice questions;

a final oral examination aimed at evaluating students’ knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and included in the required reading materials.

The self-assessment test is intended exclusively for formative and self-evaluative purposes.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination is designed to assess:

knowledge of the main concepts and theoretical models of general psychology;

the ability to use appropriate disciplinary terminology;

understanding of the relationships among different psychological processes;

the ability to integrate and connect the topics covered throughout the course;

the ability to apply psychological knowledge to the understanding of human behavior and interpersonal dynamics in healthcare settings.

The final grade will take into account the completeness of the acquired knowledge, critical reasoning skills, and clarity of presentation. Passing the examination requires achieving the minimum learning outcomes established for the course.

Students with disabilities, SLD, or other special educational needs who have already uploaded their certification through servizionline.unige.it may request appropriate examination accommodations according to the procedure outlined below.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) who require particular educational support services are invited to refer to the University website: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa

Students with disabilities or SLD are reminded that, in order to request examination accommodations, they must first upload their certification through the University online services portal: servizionline.unige.it – Students section.

The documentation will be reviewed by the University Service for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders: rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111

Subsequently, and sufficiently in advance of the examination date (at least 7 days before the exam), students must complete the online form provided by the University Inclusion Service and submit their request for examination accommodations to the instructor responsible for the assessment, copying (cc) the School Inclusion Coordinator (Prof. Nicola Girtler – nicolagirtler@unige.it) in the email.