22910023 - Psicologia generale

The study of General Psychology will allow the student to acquire the following knowledge: Psychic functioning, in order to develop basic skills for the recognition of psychological variables that co-determine educational phenomena; history, theoretical models and methods of investigation in psychological research; states and levels of consciousness; cognitive processes (perception, learning, memory, thought, creativity); emotional dynamics (emotions, motivations and psychic conflict); methodologies related to psychological variables involved in learning and teaching processes and in various educational contexts; the ability to analyze, design, implement and validate psychological evaluation tools useful in education; cognitive, behavioral, social and emotional characteristics in subjects in developmental age and, in particular, in adults.
With the study of General Psychology the student will be able to achieve the following training objectives.
In terms of knowledge and comprehension:
- define the historical, epistemological and methodological foundations of general psychology;
- to know the different research methods used by general psychology.
In terms of ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- Analyse psychological processes in different learning contexts;
- identify and generalize psychological phenomena and processes.
In terms of autonomy of judgment:
- analyse a problematic situation from different points of view;
- reconstruct the causes that determined a certain problematic situation, also attributing them relative weights appropriately differentiated;
- draw conclusions on the basis of a plurality of observed or inferred facts;
- linking psychological theories to school and training situations;
- evaluate individual and social behaviour.
In terms of communication skills:
- to know and recognize the motivations of one's own behaviour and that of others;
- Demonstrate willingness to listen and ability to interact socially;
- explain, prevent and mediate conflicts;
- adopt a positive attitude based on open-mindedness.
In terms of learning ability:
- Exercise willingness to engage in scientific research;
- Being able to detect and measure psychological variables.
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Programma

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 the understanding of cognitive and affective functioning within the framework offered by experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience. The third part of the course will focus on the application of the theory and procedures of general psychology through laboratory activities.

Main Contents:

1) Historical Introduction and Research Methods: This section will illustrate the historical origins of psychology as a scientific discipline, along with the classic theoretical frameworks used in the study of psychology. It will also present the research methods of experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience.

2) Brain and Behavior: This section will introduce some basic concepts about brain function and discuss how this knowledge has influenced the study of behavior in psychology.

3) Sensation and Perception: This part will present the main theoretical models for studying sensation and perception and provide an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms that govern perception across sensory modalities to help us understand our environment.

4) Attention: An introduction to the main theoretical models and the mechanisms involved in the process of selecting information from the environment for subsequent processing.

5) Conditioning and Learning: An introduction to the main theoretical models and a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms that enable learning processes.

6) Memory: An introduction to the main theoretical models, specifically memory systems, and an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms regulating the processing, storage, and retrieval of information.

7) Thinking and Reasoning: An introduction to the main theoretical models and an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms that fulfill functions related to concept formation, decision-making, and problem-solving.

8) Language: An introduction to the main theoretical models and an analysis of language functions that facilitate communication and knowledge sharing.

9) Intelligence: An introduction to the main theoretical models and an analysis of the factors that determine intelligence, its components, and the instruments for measuring intelligence.

10) Motivation: An introduction to the main theoretical models and an analysis of the main forms of motivation that guide individual behavior.

11) Emotions: An introduction to the main theoretical models and the mechanisms by which affective systems modulate human behavior.

12) Personality: An introduction to the main theoretical models describing and defining personality.


Testi Adottati

Required textbooks:

1) Coon, D., Mitterer, J.O. (2020 - Edizione italiana a cura di Stefano Mastandrea e Sabrina Fagioli). Psicologia generale. UTET
2) D'Amico (2018). Intelligenza emotiva e metaemotiva. Il Mulino


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

CAPITOLO 9, Pensiero e immagini mentali
All the chapter is required EXCEPT:
9.2. Lo sviluppo cognitivo
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


Students’ online resources:
All relevant information will be available at this webpage. Additional online facilities including other recommended readings, internet websites and other materials are available on the “Formonline” platform.

Modalità Erogazione

The course is articulated in lectures and practical activities. 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 link to the class page is: https://formonline.uniroma3.it/course/view.php?id=1259

Modalità Frequenza

distance course

Modalità Valutazione

The final exam will consist of a written test that includes 40 multiple-choice questions and 2 open-ended questions. Out of the 40 multiple-choice questions, 30 will be based on the main textbook 'Psicologia Generale,' and the remaining 10 will be related to the secondary book mentioned in the 'Required Textbooks' section. The open-ended question will be focused on the main textbook. International students have the option to take the exam orally in English. It is mandatory for all students to register for the exam online by the specified deadline. The exam registration process should be completed through the Student Portal. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the teacher at least two days before the exam to discuss and arrange any necessary accommodations. More info available at: https://formonline.uniroma3.it/course/view.php?id=1259