Ateneo - UPO

The course will provide an overview of key topics in the study of psychology and behavior. It will outline the history of scientific psychology, describing its origins, the evolution of major theoretical paradigms, and how these have shaped modern scientific psychology. Key aspects of general psychology will be examined in depth, highlighting their clinical applications. An integrated approach will be adopted, taking into account biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Recommended textbook: Holt Nigel, Andy Bremner et al., Psicologia generale. Capire la mente osservando il comportamento. Third edition, McGraw Hill (2023). Further bibliographic references will be provided during the course.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge regarding the history of scientific psychology and the fundamental elements of psychological functioning. They will also be able to critically analyze the strengths and limitations of the theoretical and research paradigms presented during the lectures. Finally, students will be able to identify the areas where general psychology is applied in clinical and research contexts.

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Instruction will be delivered through lectures. Active student participation is strongly encouraged, including through interactive classroom activities based on clinical and research examples.

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written exam with multiple-choice and/or open-ended questions on the main topics of the course.

Psychology as a science
• Mind and brain
• Perspectives and theoretical orientations in scientific psychology
Overview of the history of psychology
• Evolution of psychology and various paradigms
• Nature and nurture (genes, learning, intelligence, personality, epigenetics)
• Cognitive development in childhood
Biological bases of psychology:
• Genes, environment, and behavior
• CNS structures and the hierarchical organization of the brain
• Sensory processes and systems
Areas of general psychology:
• Consciousness
• Learning
• Attention
• Language and thought
• Memory
• Intelligence
• Motivation, drives and homeostasis, incentives
• Emotions
Character, temperament, and personality:
• From infancy to adulthood: physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development (social and emotional development in infancy and childhood)
• Personality

knowledge and understanding of the main theoretical models of general psychology.