Corso di laurea in Scienze e Tecniche Psicologiche

The lecture aims to provide an overview of the historical development of psychology, illustrating the various periods through which it evolves, from the philosophical psychology to the scientific psychology, until it reaches the contemporary context. In particular, the most important paradigms of psychological science since the 19th century to the present will be presented and discussed. For each model we analyze the conceptual foundations, the epistemological and methodological implications and applications for some of the main issues of the discipline.

Knowledge and understanding

At the end of the lecture, the student should be able to give an overview of the historical development of psychology, illustrating the various periods through which it evolves, from the philosophical psychology to the scientific psychology, until it reaches the contemporary context.

Autonomy of judgement

In particular, the student should be able to compare the epistemological principles which characterize the great modern schools: Structuralism, Functionalism, Gestalt, Reflexology, Behaviorism, Genetic Epistemology, Psychoanalysis, Cognitivism, Neuroscience, and know their conceptual foundations, as well as their epistemological and methodological implications and applications.

Communication skills

At the end of the lecture, the student should:

- have acquired the appropriate vocabulary to present the different currents of thought and theoretical positions examined;

- knowing how to formulate concepts clearly.

Analytical contents - Reflections on the concept of psyche in the different storical and cultural periods; the classical thought; the Middle Ages; the Renaissance; the birth of scientific psychology in the nineteenth century; the great modern schools: Structuralism, Functionalism, Gestalt, Reflexology, Behaviorism, Genetic Epistemology, Psychoanalysis, Cognitivism, Neuroscience.

The lesson on Genetic Epistemology will be held by Prof. Schmidt.

The lecture is structured into 36 hours of lessons in presence. 

The assessment of the preparation will take place through an oral exam aimed at ascertaining the learning of the historical development of Psychology, the ability to compare the epistemological principles on which the great modern schools are based, and the knowledge of the main concepts introduced by these different schools.

Students will also have the opportunity to take a written pre-test with annual validity. The test will be composed of 27 questions with multiple choice answers. The correct answers will be assigned 1 point, to those not given or wrong 0 points. If the test is sufficient (at least 18 points), the student can accept the grade and has to answer to only one question at the oral exam which will allow to obtain a maximum of 4 points. If the assessment of the written test is not sufficient, or the student does not want to accept the grade, the assessment of the learning will take place during the oral exam which consists in three questions.

The exam will be based on the reference texts indicated, without differences between attending and non-attending students.

It is possible to take the oral exam in English.

For Erasmus students: The two main texts (Legrenzi, 2019; Galati, 2020) can be substituted by:

Schultz, D.P. & Schultz, S.E. (2011). A history of modern psychology. Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.

James, W. (1884). What is an emotion? Mind, 9, 188-205. http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/James/emotion.htm

Watson, J.B., & Rayner, R. (1920). Conditioned emotional reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 3(1), 1-14. http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Watson/emotion.htm

Prof. Tinti receives on Wednesday from 10.00 to 12.00.

Students are suggested to sign in the lecture in order to promptly receive any communications from the teacher.