ID:
508563
Durata (ore):
36
CFU:
6
SSD:
Psicologia sociale
Anno:
2026
Dati Generali
Periodo di attività
Secondo Semestre (15/02/2027 - 04/06/2027)
Syllabus
Obiettivi Formativi
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide advanced theoretical and methodological
knowledge of the cognitive, affective, and neurobiological processes that
make it possible to understand others, interpret social interactions, and
regulate behaviour in interpersonal contexts.
By the end of the course, students will have acquired:
- Knowledge and understanding:mastery of the principal constructs,
models, and empirical findings in contemporary social cognition.
- Applying knowledge and understanding:the ability to use theoretical
models to interpret social phenomena, profiles of typical and atypical
development, and relevant clinical issues.
- Making judgements: the ability to assess the quality of empirical
evidence in a reasoned manner and to identify theoretical assumptions,
oversimplifications, and controversies in the literature.
- Communication skills:the ability to present complex concepts using
appropriate scientific language and to participate in critical discussions of
psychological data and models.
- Learning skills:competence in independently engaging with the
international literature and keeping up to date with theoretical and
methodological developments in the field of social cognition.
- Recognise and apply the fundamental principles of the Italian
Psychologists’ Code of Ethics in the analysis of situations involving
education, research, and psychological practice, with particular attention
to respect for the individual, the protection of confidentiality, informed
consent, professional competence, and psychologists’ social
responsibility.
The course aims to provide advanced theoretical and methodological
knowledge of the cognitive, affective, and neurobiological processes that
make it possible to understand others, interpret social interactions, and
regulate behaviour in interpersonal contexts.
By the end of the course, students will have acquired:
- Knowledge and understanding:mastery of the principal constructs,
models, and empirical findings in contemporary social cognition.
- Applying knowledge and understanding:the ability to use theoretical
models to interpret social phenomena, profiles of typical and atypical
development, and relevant clinical issues.
- Making judgements: the ability to assess the quality of empirical
evidence in a reasoned manner and to identify theoretical assumptions,
oversimplifications, and controversies in the literature.
- Communication skills:the ability to present complex concepts using
appropriate scientific language and to participate in critical discussions of
psychological data and models.
- Learning skills:competence in independently engaging with the
international literature and keeping up to date with theoretical and
methodological developments in the field of social cognition.
- Recognise and apply the fundamental principles of the Italian
Psychologists’ Code of Ethics in the analysis of situations involving
education, research, and psychological practice, with particular attention
to respect for the individual, the protection of confidentiality, informed
consent, professional competence, and psychologists’ social
responsibility.
Prerequisiti
No mandatory prerequisites are required. However, students are advised
to review the core topics of any Social Psychology course in order to facilitate their
understanding of, and engagement with, the material covered in the
course.
to review the core topics of any Social Psychology course in order to facilitate their
understanding of, and engagement with, the material covered in the
course.
Metodi didattici
The course is delivered through in-person lectures.
For each CFU (25 hours), the following activities are planned:
- 5 hours of teacher-led online learning (DE), consisting of the presentation of course content through slides and scientific papers.
- 1 hour of interactive learning (DI), during which students will be invited
to take part in discussions and engage with audio-visual materials in
order to maximise learning and the critical analysis of content.
- 19 hours of independent study based on the course bibliography and
For each CFU (25 hours), the following activities are planned:
- 5 hours of teacher-led online learning (DE), consisting of the presentation of course content through slides and scientific papers.
- 1 hour of interactive learning (DI), during which students will be invited
to take part in discussions and engage with audio-visual materials in
order to maximise learning and the critical analysis of content.
- 19 hours of independent study based on the course bibliography and
Verifica Apprendimento
The final grade will be awarded on a 30-point scale.
The written examination will last 60 minutes and will include both multiple-choice questions, worth 1 point each, and open-ended questions, scored from 0 to 3 points each. The oral examination will last an average of 25 minutes.
Assessment of the examinations will consider the accuracy and completeness of knowledge, understanding of concepts and theoretical models, the ability to explain phenomena and connect topics, clarity of expression, and appropriate use of psychological terminology.
When assessing answers, a distinction will be made between the ability to define a concept by identifying its meaning and essential characteristics, and the ability to explain it by describing the processes and mechanisms involved and its relationships with other relevant concepts. A definition alone will not be sufficient to obtain full marks when an explanation is required.
The written examination will last 60 minutes and will include both multiple-choice questions, worth 1 point each, and open-ended questions, scored from 0 to 3 points each. The oral examination will last an average of 25 minutes.
Assessment of the examinations will consider the accuracy and completeness of knowledge, understanding of concepts and theoretical models, the ability to explain phenomena and connect topics, clarity of expression, and appropriate use of psychological terminology.
When assessing answers, a distinction will be made between the ability to define a concept by identifying its meaning and essential characteristics, and the ability to explain it by describing the processes and mechanisms involved and its relationships with other relevant concepts. A definition alone will not be sufficient to obtain full marks when an explanation is required.
Testi
Scientific papers that will be uploaded on Kiro during the course
The book by Lisa Feldman-Barrett, 2020 " Seven and Half Lesson About the Brain"
The book by Lisa Feldman-Barrett, 2020 " Seven and Half Lesson About the Brain"
Contenuti
The course will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to social cognition:definitions, main areas of research, the
historical development of the field, and the neural bases of social
behaviour.
- Autism and social cognition:the evolution of concepts and explanatory
models of autism.
- Mentalising and mental-state attribution:definition and components of
*Theory of Mind*.
- Neural bases of social cognition: the contribution of neuroimaging
studies to understanding processes involved in intentionality perception,
the interpretation of biological motion, and mental-state attribution.
- Empathy: cognitive, affective, and motivational components.
- Emotions and social cognition:the contemporary debate on basic
emotions and constructionist theories of emotion.
- Social cognition, mental health, and prevention: applications of
psychological models to the understanding of suicide risk, with particular
reference to the Integrated Motivational–Volitional Model of suicidal
behaviour.
- Critical reading of the scientific literature:guided analysis of empirical
and theoretical articles in English, with attention to research questions,
hypotheses, experimental designs, findings, methodological limitations,
and applied implications.
Lectures will be complemented by discussion of teaching materials,
selected scientific articles, and seminar contributions, with the aim of
developing a critical and interdisciplinary understanding of the
phenomena under investigation.
- Introduction to social cognition:definitions, main areas of research, the
historical development of the field, and the neural bases of social
behaviour.
- Autism and social cognition:the evolution of concepts and explanatory
models of autism.
- Mentalising and mental-state attribution:definition and components of
*Theory of Mind*.
- Neural bases of social cognition: the contribution of neuroimaging
studies to understanding processes involved in intentionality perception,
the interpretation of biological motion, and mental-state attribution.
- Empathy: cognitive, affective, and motivational components.
- Emotions and social cognition:the contemporary debate on basic
emotions and constructionist theories of emotion.
- Social cognition, mental health, and prevention: applications of
psychological models to the understanding of suicide risk, with particular
reference to the Integrated Motivational–Volitional Model of suicidal
behaviour.
- Critical reading of the scientific literature:guided analysis of empirical
and theoretical articles in English, with attention to research questions,
hypotheses, experimental designs, findings, methodological limitations,
and applied implications.
Lectures will be complemented by discussion of teaching materials,
selected scientific articles, and seminar contributions, with the aim of
developing a critical and interdisciplinary understanding of the
phenomena under investigation.
Lingua Insegnamento
INGLESE
Corsi
Corsi
PSYCHOLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE AND HUMAN SCIENCES
Laurea Magistrale
2 anni
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