FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY 1

Knowledge and understanding. The course aims to enable students to acquire fundamental knowledge a) on the origins and historical development of psychology; b) on methods of psychology; c) on the biological bases of behavior; d) on cognitive, emotional, and motivational functioning as well as personality. Overall, the course aims to provide basic knowledge of the main topics of general psychology and the psychological processes underlying human behavior.

Applying knowledge and understanding. Knowledge of the main topics of general psychology gained through understanding the current theoretical, experimental, empirical, and applied developments of the discipline.

Making judgements. Ability to argue personal interpretations inherent to the study of the mind and behavior.

Communication skills. Ability to use the basic vocabulary of the discipline. Ability to communicate with specialists, using an appropriate psychological vocabulary and, at the same time, ability to communicate psychological concepts to non-specialists in a simple and correct way.

Learning skills. Acquisition of a body of knowledge useful to further study the disciplines into which the bachelor’s degree is articulated. Ability to deepen and update one's knowledge independently, employing specialized literature and appropriate bibliographical resources.

Lectures 

None

Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended.

• Origins and historical development of psychology
• Methods of psychology
• Biological bases of behavior
• Sensation and visual perception
• Memory
• Learning
• Emotion and motivation
• Language and thinking
• Intelligence
• Human development
• Personality

Schacter D., Gilbert D., Nock M., Wegner D, “Psicologia generale” - Zanichelli 2018 (pp. 1-128; 185-434).

The assessment of learning takes place through a final exam, which ascertains the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills via a 45-minute written test.

The written test consists of 27 multiple choice questions (for each correct answer the score is 1) and 2 open questions (for each correct answer the score is 2). Both a wrong and/or an answered question are worth 0 points. If all 29 questions are correct, the final score is 30 cum laude. Minimum required passing score is 18.

The questions will focus on all topics covered in the course.

By way of example only, some sample questions are given below:

Sample question 1: Describe long-term memory

Sample question 2: Describe the law of effect

Sample question 3: Describe what personality is and how it is measured