University of Padua

The course provides a systematic review of the psychobiological bases of the main psychotic spectrum disorders (in particular Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders). Results from genetic, electrophysiological, neurochemical, and structural/functional neuroimaging are discussed for all disorders. As much as possible, the principal models proposed to explain the pathogenesis of each disorder are presented, to integrate information from the multiple approaches of neurosciences. The course discusses topics including a brief introduction to Psychotic Spectrum Disorders, methods and experimental techniques in psychobiological research, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Cluster A Personality Disorders. This advanced level course is at the second cycle degree, or masters degree level at the University of Padua. Students are required to have knowledge of cognitive processes and anatomo-physiological bases of the central nervous system as a prerequisite.

This is course is a study of cross-cultural issues in personnel psychology. The course discusses topics including an overview of recruitment and selection (methods, cognition, personality, motivation), job performance (appraisal and management), training, and career development (career calling); key concepts, theories, and issues of the cross-cultural approach to the study of personnel: effect of culture on organizational process (recruitment, selection and assessment) and individuals’ characteristics (personality, cognition, values, motivation and career calling); applying personnel psychology, cross-cultural psychology, and diversity management to real-world contexts and issues (e.g., diversity training, staffing and selection bias); and reflecting on the role of culture in working with culturally diverse personnel. The course requires a basic knowledge of personality traits, motivation, intelligence, psychological testing, and industrial and organizational psychology as a prerequisite.

This course consists of an introduction to the major areas of interest in developmental psychology. The course explores topics such as biological, cognitive, emotional, and social development, by conceptualizing the individual as a whole at different stages of the lifespan. With an emphasis on the scientific nature of psychology, the course presents common research methodologies employed by developmental psychologists. Primary attention is devoted to the period of infancy through adolescence with some coverage of adulthood, and late life. The course focuses on questions such as: What psychological changes occur during infancy, childhood, and adolescence? What psychological processes drive the development of children? What are the psychological, neurobiological, and genetic/environmental causes of developmental disorders, such as language impairment, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dyslexia? What can psychologists do to promote healthy development in neurotypical individuals and support development among individuals with developmental disorders? The course requires students have basic knowledge on general cognitive functions such as perception, attention, language, and memory as a prerequisite.

This course is for students who have already studied Italian and can easily express themselves on familiar topics. It runs at the B1/B2 level according to the CEFR level. This communicative course develops oral skills in Italian.

The course discusses theoretical knowledge, research methods, and innovative techniques to study, design, and evaluate human-computer interaction (HCI). The targeted knowledge is such that makes the resulting HCI effective and efficient, and the user experience simple, pleasant, and overall satisfactory. The skills acquired pertain to the domain of HCI and cognitive ergonomics; more specifically: user-centered design; basic principles of cognitive ergonomics; user experience evaluation and products usability; visual communication and data visualization; accessibility and universal design (e.g. design for older adults); and social computing and social ergonomics.

The first part of the course introduces the concepts of evolution and adaptation applied to an animal and human behavior and the fundamental principles for the study of development, evolution, and genetics of behavior. Then follows the eco-ethology that deals with the ecology of behavior in natural environments, from territorial, predatory, alimentary, sexual, and social behavior both in animals and in humans. In the third phase, topics of sociobiology are explored. The adaptive value of sociability, sexual behavior, and reproductive strategies (both in animals and humans) is further explored. Wedding strategies such as polygamy, polyandry, and monogamy is investigated. The course compares the underlying genetics to the ecology of animal behavior and introduce evolutionary psychology. The course compares the underlying genetics to the ecology of animal behavior and introduce evolutionary psychology. The course requires students to have basic knowledge of genetics and biology as a prerequisite.

This course explores the theoretical background of the development of the neural basis of cognitive function, and basic knowledge of neural development of cognitive functions and methods to study the neural mechanism of cognitive development. The course considers questions such as: What is the nature of developmental change? What are the brain mechanisms underlying cognitive, perceptual, social, and emotional development during infancy and childhood? The course evaluates implications of findings from developmental cognitive neuroscience for broader scientific issues including nature vs. nurture, critical periods in development, and the modularity of mental functions. An integral part of the course is careful consideration of the major methods of developmental cognitive neuroscience including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), recordings of evoked response potentials (ERPs), and behavioral marker tasks. The course devotes particular attention to the unique challenges of applying these methods to the study of infants and children in typical and atypical development. The course requires students to have basic knowledge on general cognitive functions such as perception, attention, language, and memory as a prerequisite.

The course covers the main topics of social psychology and of the psychology of communication, modernized by reference to social relations mediated by new technology. The course addresses the classic, most influential concepts and models in social psychology and communication; the pioneer, landmark studies that made the history of these disciplines; and recent approaches to mediated communication. The course discusses topics including the main theoretical and methodological frameworks; social perception and reasoning; self-schemas, self-esteem and self-presentation; models and measures of attitudes; persuasion and social influence; group processes; prosocial behavior; and mediated interaction. The course requires students to have basic knowledge of research methodology in psychology as a prerequisite.

This course discusses the role of power and power relations in psychology and mental health. Course topics include: health, mental health, status, and inequality; embodiment of inequality, power, and status; the experience of injustice and powerlessness; power and manipulation in interpersonal relationships; the power of passion and purpose; the power of compassion and empathy; psychopathologies of omnipotence and impotence; psychopathologies and the global financial crisis; media manipulation, propaganda, and mind control; the psychology of neoliberal ideology; perceptions of inequality and redistribution preferences; and empowerment and liberation psychology. The course recommends students have completed a course in global health psychology and have good knowledge of statistics, epidemiology, and econometrics, as prerequisites.

This course examines the relation between a series of brain disorders and their consequences on behavior, emotion, and cognition. The course clarifies the nature, the development, and the consequences of organic disorders acquired after brain lesions, neurological diseases, or other non-neurological syndromes and their consequences. Using case studies culled from clinical work, the course provides first-hand accounts of neuropsychology and how brain illness or injury can manifest across different cultures. This application-based approach to neuropsychology provides a clear, comprehensive, understanding of what happens in a human mind after an organic damage. The course addresses the principal neurological disorders and their impact of the patient life, as well as how to recognize symptoms and their manifestation in diverse cultures. The course discusses the main pathologies with organic base in all their aspects and consequences on behavior, emotions, and cognition including cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, dementia and neurodegenerative disease, multiple sclerosis and demyelinating disorders, neuropsychology of oncology, neurotoxicology, alcohol-related neuropathology, cultural neuropsychology, and analyses of clinical cases. The course requires background knowledge of brain and behavior relationships and a previous course in neuropsychology as a prerequisite.