PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING
Stampa
Enrollment year
2022/2023
Academic year
2023/2024
Regulations
DM270
Academic discipline
M-PSI/01 (GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF BRAIN AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Course
PSYCHOLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE AND HUMAN SCIENCES
Curriculum
PERCORSO COMUNE
Year of study
Period
2nd semester (12/02/2024 - 31/05/2024)
ECTS
6
Lesson hours
36 lesson hours
Language
English
Activity type
WRITTEN AND ORAL TEST
Teacher
ROSI ALESSIA (titolare) - 6 ECTS
Prerequisites
The course prerequisites include a basic knowledge of general psychology and cognitive psychology. Prospective students should be familiar with the fundamental concepts of both general and cognitive psychology, such as learning, motivation, emotions, intelligence, attention, memory, reasoning and problem-solving. Having a basic understanding of these concepts is vital to understanding the course material and effectively participating in class discussions. By doing so, students can enhance their learning experience and improve their ability to apply what they learn to real-world situations.
Learning outcomes
This course aims at developing knowledge and understanding in several key areas of Cognitive psychology:
a) Advanced comprehension of theoretical models and the interpretation of experimental data with reference to Psychology of Aging
b) Profound understanding of the methods and experimental techniques employed within the field of Psychology of Aging.

Furthermore, the course aims to cultivate the ability to apply this knowledge and understanding effectively by:
a) enhancing proficiency in executing and assessing applications within experimental contexts in the area of Cognitive Psychology
b) advancing students’ competences in executing and evaluating applications within clinical environments in the area of Cognitive Psychology
c) promoting of critical thinking, analytical prowess, and the synthesis of ideas in the area of Cognitive Psychology.
Course contents
The course falls within the field of cognitive psychology and focuses on cognitive and socio-cognitive changes associated with aging in clinical and research settings. The course will cover various topics of interest in the Psychology of Aging, including theoretical and experimental aspects, as well as many clinical application contexts. The underlying theme throughout the course will be the interaction among aging and cognitive, emotional, and social functioning changes in older adults.
The course will begin with an overview of the major theories and research methods used to study aging. Following this, students will delve deeper into recent advancements in the aging process from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The course will specifically focus on changes in cognitive functioning related to age, such as fluid and crystallized intelligence, attention, memory, reasoning, and executive functioning. Additionally, the course will examine the differences between normal and pathological aging, including subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. Furthermore, the course will explore age-related changes in decision-making competence, and ways to improve this ability in older adults. Finally, the course will discuss theories and empirical studies on prosocial behavior in aging.
By the end of the course students will be able to explain the major theories and empirical data in the domain of psychology of aging with an emphasis on critical evaluation of new research findings. Moreover, they will be able to apply research methods in studying the psychology of aging and describe age-related changes in cognitive and socio-cognitive abilities, recognize the distinction between normal and pathological aging and be familiar with the main psychological and neuropsychological tests to assess cognitive and socio-cognitive abilities in older adults.
Teaching methods
This course will adopt a variety of learning methods, by blending traditional lectures with experiential learning activities and incorporating group discussions on scientific journal papers, and practical exercises.
Reccomended or required readings
Materials (e.g., slides, papers) will be made available on Kiro during the course.
Assessment methods
The exam will be a written examination with 10 open-ended questions. Each question is worth 3 points, and the total grade will be between 0-30. The exam duration is 60 minutes. The exam will cover the material and topics explained and discussed during the lectures. The students' grades will be determined by the accuracy and clarity of their answers, as well as their ability to explain and critically apply the concepts taught throughout the course.
Further information
To schedule an appointment, please write an email to alessia.rosi@unipv.it
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