Psychology and Sociology
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
responsibly manage the aspects of their own professional activities.
To this end, the course includes a part in which the fundamentals of General Psychology necessary to understand the basic psychological mechanisms of individual behavior will be acquired; a second part aimed at acquiring the basic competences in Sociology through a socio-historical excursus together with recent sociological perspectives with references to Health and Health organization in the " Networked Society "; and a third part devoted to illustrating the different methodological approaches that have characterized the evolution of medical/surgical thinking and practice and the main sources on the History of Audiometry, a knowledge that will enable the student to develop his or her professional identity.
To this end, the course includes a part in which the fundamentals of General Psychology necessary to understand the basic psychological mechanisms of individual behavior will be acquired; a second part aimed at acquiring the basic competences in Sociology through a socio-historical excursus together with recent sociological perspectives with references to Health and Health organization in the " Networked Society "; and a third part devoted to illustrating the different methodological approaches that have characterized the evolution of medical/surgical thinking and practice and the main sources on the History of Audiometry, a knowledge that will enable the student to develop his or her professional identity.
Expected learning outcomes
The student is expected to acquire the skills related to the psychological, sociological, and historical aspects of a future health profession in order to properly situate their profession in a complex context of relationships and operational networks
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge of psychology is required. Basic familiarity with biomedical sciences acquired during the first year of the degree programme is recommended. As this is a first-year module, prerequisites correspond to those required for admission to the degree programme.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Examination format
A separate partial written test is held for the Psychology module.
Type of assessment and duration
Written test. For the General Psychology module, 33 multiple choice questions are asked. The overall integrated oral examination lasts 40 minutes.
Weight of the module in the final grade
The final grade for the integrated course is a single mark expressed out of 30. The General Psychology module contributes to the final grade in proportion to its credits (2 CFU out of 5 total for the integrated course). The final grade reflects a collegial assessment by the instructors of all three modules.
Evaluation criteria
· Knowledge and understanding of the theoretical content covered in the programme
· Ability to apply psychological concepts to the professional context of the audiology technician
· Critical reasoning and ability to connect different topics
Communication of results
The final grade for the integrated examination is recorded electronically via the Unimia system. Students receive notification of their result through their personal profile on the University portal. Brief oral feedback may be provided by the instructor at the end of the examination upon request.
A separate partial written test is held for the Psychology module.
Type of assessment and duration
Written test. For the General Psychology module, 33 multiple choice questions are asked. The overall integrated oral examination lasts 40 minutes.
Weight of the module in the final grade
The final grade for the integrated course is a single mark expressed out of 30. The General Psychology module contributes to the final grade in proportion to its credits (2 CFU out of 5 total for the integrated course). The final grade reflects a collegial assessment by the instructors of all three modules.
Evaluation criteria
· Knowledge and understanding of the theoretical content covered in the programme
· Ability to apply psychological concepts to the professional context of the audiology technician
· Critical reasoning and ability to connect different topics
Communication of results
The final grade for the integrated examination is recorded electronically via the Unimia system. Students receive notification of their result through their personal profile on the University portal. Brief oral feedback may be provided by the instructor at the end of the examination upon request.
Medical history
Course syllabus
Origins and significance of Medicine and History of Medicine. Medieval and Renaissance Medicine. Systematic anatomy, animated anatomy, microscopic anatomy.
Enlightenment and public health. The birth of the clinic and its instruments (semeiotics, diagnostics and therapy). The problems of surgery and their resolution: analgesia, anesthesia, asepsis and antisepsis.
XX century: new concepts, instruments and therapies.
The Specialized Institute for the Complete Treatment of Deafness and the first Italian Centre for Acoustic, Phonetic and Labiological Rehabilitation founded in Milan in the early twentieth century.
Enlightenment and public health. The birth of the clinic and its instruments (semeiotics, diagnostics and therapy). The problems of surgery and their resolution: analgesia, anesthesia, asepsis and antisepsis.
XX century: new concepts, instruments and therapies.
The Specialized Institute for the Complete Treatment of Deafness and the first Italian Centre for Acoustic, Phonetic and Labiological Rehabilitation founded in Milan in the early twentieth century.
Teaching methods
Face-to face lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations
Upload of teaching materials on the Ariel platform
Upload of teaching materials on the Ariel platform
Teaching Resources
Bock G., Quaderno di Storia della Medicina e della Chirurgia, Rudiano (BS), GAM Editrice, 2004
Melzi U., Come è sorto e come funziona l'Istituto Specializzato per il Trattamento completo della Sordità e Primo Centro Italiano di Rieducazione acustica, fonetica e labiologica. Tipografia Ditta F. Fossati. Milano, [dopo il 1929].
Melzi U., Come è sorto e come funziona l'Istituto Specializzato per il Trattamento completo della Sordità e Primo Centro Italiano di Rieducazione acustica, fonetica e labiologica. Tipografia Ditta F. Fossati. Milano, [dopo il 1929].
General psychology
Course syllabus
1. Introduction to Psychology (2 hours)
· Definition, fields, and scientific method in psychology
· Overview of major theoretical models: behaviourism, cognitivism, biopsychosocial approach
2. Fundamental Cognitive Processes (6 hours)
· Sensation and perception: sensory mechanisms, auditory and visual perception
· Attention: cognitive resources and information selection
· Memory: encoding, consolidation, and retrieval; prospective memory
· Learning: classical and operant conditioning, observational learning
· Verbal and non-verbal communication
3. Emotions, Motivation, and Stress (4 hours)
· Theories of emotion and emotion regulation
· Motivation: theoretical models and relevance in healthcare settings
· Stress: phases, psychophysiological response, and health consequences
· Coping strategies: adaptive and maladaptive
4. Psychology of Health and Illness (4 hours)
· The biopsychosocial model
· Risk perception and health behaviours
· Psychological response to chronic illness and sensory disability
· Psychological impact of hearing loss across the lifespan: adults, older adults, children, and adolescents
· Quality of life and psychological well-being in patients with hearing impairment
5. Clinician-Patient Relationship and Clinical Communication (4 hours)
· Foundations of the therapeutic relationship: empathy and active listening
· Effective communication strategies with hearing-impaired patients
· Communicating diagnoses: psychological and relational aspects
· Multiprofessional teamwork and management of challenging situations
· Definition, fields, and scientific method in psychology
· Overview of major theoretical models: behaviourism, cognitivism, biopsychosocial approach
2. Fundamental Cognitive Processes (6 hours)
· Sensation and perception: sensory mechanisms, auditory and visual perception
· Attention: cognitive resources and information selection
· Memory: encoding, consolidation, and retrieval; prospective memory
· Learning: classical and operant conditioning, observational learning
· Verbal and non-verbal communication
3. Emotions, Motivation, and Stress (4 hours)
· Theories of emotion and emotion regulation
· Motivation: theoretical models and relevance in healthcare settings
· Stress: phases, psychophysiological response, and health consequences
· Coping strategies: adaptive and maladaptive
4. Psychology of Health and Illness (4 hours)
· The biopsychosocial model
· Risk perception and health behaviours
· Psychological response to chronic illness and sensory disability
· Psychological impact of hearing loss across the lifespan: adults, older adults, children, and adolescents
· Quality of life and psychological well-being in patients with hearing impairment
5. Clinician-Patient Relationship and Clinical Communication (4 hours)
· Foundations of the therapeutic relationship: empathy and active listening
· Effective communication strategies with hearing-impaired patients
· Communicating diagnoses: psychological and relational aspects
· Multiprofessional teamwork and management of challenging situations
Teaching methods
· Lectures supported by slide presentations
· Discussion of clinical cases and exemplary professional scenarios
· In-class exercises on communication techniques and role-playing (ungraded)
· Lecture materials (slides) are made available on the Ariel e-learning platform
Attendance is compulsory.
· Discussion of clinical cases and exemplary professional scenarios
· In-class exercises on communication techniques and role-playing (ungraded)
· Lecture materials (slides) are made available on the Ariel e-learning platform
Attendance is compulsory.
Teaching Resources
Lecture slides, available on Ariel, are the primary study resource.
For further reading:
· Psicologia generale per le professioni medico-sanitarie di Marta Bassi e Antonella Delle Fave (a cura di)
· Additional articles and supplementary materials indicated by the instructor during the course and uploaded to Ariel
For further reading:
· Psicologia generale per le professioni medico-sanitarie di Marta Bassi e Antonella Delle Fave (a cura di)
· Additional articles and supplementary materials indicated by the instructor during the course and uploaded to Ariel
General sociology
Course syllabus
· Introduction to sociology as a social science
· Aims, methods, and perspectives of sociology
· Microsociology and macrosociology
· Relationship between individual, society, and social change
Sociological Thinkers and Theories
· Herbert Spencer:
o evolutionism and social Darwinism
o industrial society
o political and educational thought
· Georg Simmel:
o formal sociology
o dyad and triad
o modernity and metropolis
o money and social relationships
o individual and identity in modern society
· Georg W. F. Hegel:
o dialectics
o historical progress
o State and freedom
o end of history
· Karl Marx:
o historical materialism
o class struggle
o alienation
o structure and superstructure
o revolution and communism
o historical dialectics
· Max Weber:
o interpretive sociology
o social action
o Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism
o rationalization and bureaucracy
o power and authority
· Émile Durkheim:
o social facts
o mechanical and organic solidarity
o anomie
o suicide
o deviance and crime
Applied and Contemporary Topics
· Modernity, urbanization, and contemporary society
· Social change and crisis
· Deviance, social norms, and social control
· Relationship between individual phenomena and broader social processes
· Aims, methods, and perspectives of sociology
· Microsociology and macrosociology
· Relationship between individual, society, and social change
Sociological Thinkers and Theories
· Herbert Spencer:
o evolutionism and social Darwinism
o industrial society
o political and educational thought
· Georg Simmel:
o formal sociology
o dyad and triad
o modernity and metropolis
o money and social relationships
o individual and identity in modern society
· Georg W. F. Hegel:
o dialectics
o historical progress
o State and freedom
o end of history
· Karl Marx:
o historical materialism
o class struggle
o alienation
o structure and superstructure
o revolution and communism
o historical dialectics
· Max Weber:
o interpretive sociology
o social action
o Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism
o rationalization and bureaucracy
o power and authority
· Émile Durkheim:
o social facts
o mechanical and organic solidarity
o anomie
o suicide
o deviance and crime
Applied and Contemporary Topics
· Modernity, urbanization, and contemporary society
· Social change and crisis
· Deviance, social norms, and social control
· Relationship between individual phenomena and broader social processes
Teaching methods
Lectures supported by slides and teaching materials provided by the instructor.
Teaching Resources
Slides and handouts uploaded by the instructor during the course. No mandatory textbook is required.
Modules or teaching units
General psychology
PSIC-01/A - General Psychology - University credits: 2
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Gorini Alessandra
General sociology
GSPS-05/A - General Sociology - University credits: 2
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Maiorana Natale Vincenzo
Medical history
MEDS-02/C - Medical History - University credits: 1
Lessons: 10 hours
Professor:
Porro Alessandro
Professor(s)
Reception:
On appointment
Reception:
previo appuntamento e-mail
via della Commenda 19 - 2* p.