PSY

The course begins with an investigation of the aims and principles of developmental psychology as a scientific discipline, and describes the methods used to obtain knowledge about children. The course will also draw upon Childhood Studies by examining childhood from historical, global, socio-cultural and policy perspectives. This is followed by an exploration of the major topics of development that have been investigated by psychologists.
The course presents a socio-cultural approach to contemporary issues of children’s development. The aim is to demonstrate the importance of understanding people in relation to their social world. The impact of global trends, social dynamics and the urban environment on children’s lives will be explored. Students will gain an insight into life in the UK – including education and child care practices and policies – and explore how it shapes children’s development. Issues such as children’s early attachments, the emergence of consciousness and language, developmental disorders and the role of play will be examined. 

Health psychology focuses on the relationship between behavior, health, and illness while trying to identify the predictors of health-compromising and health-enhancing factors. Through a dual focus on healthcare and psychology, students will examine illness identities in the German / EU context. Special emphasis will be placed on cultural differences related to quality of life, self-help, religious beliefs, alternative medicine, and rituals related to dying and death. Through an examination of the relevant literature, guest lectures and site visits, the course addresses philosophical questions about the perceptions and definitions of what it means to be “healthy” or “unhealthy” within a cultural context.

This course will introduce the psychological, biological, and experiential factors thought to influence the symptoms, etiology, course/prognosis, and treatment of mental disorders in adults. Students will develop an understanding of the rationale for the diagnostic criteria and other clinical signs accompanying common DSM-5 disorders; causal and maintenance factors of disorders; and examples of empirically supported treatments. (Pending SOR approval)

This course will explore the field of cross-cultural psychology through a focus on a specific country and its inhabitants: Italy. Aspects of cross-cultural analysis from the field of cross-cultural psychology (as well as interdisciplinary elements from sociology, anthropology, biology and ecology) will be discussed, including: cultural influence on human behavior, attitudes, values, communication and societal organization. Special topics of ethnocentrism, individual vs. collective societies, plural societies, cultural views on mental health, and intercultural communication are highlighted. Methodological issues of cross-cultural research will be reviewed, and students will have the opportunity to conduct a cross-cultural interview and be participant-observers of their own experience here in Italy. The city of Florence and its inhabitants become the classroom through various excursions and field work. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their own cultural origins in regards to behaviors, communication, attitudes and values, as well as their acculturation experiences while studying in Italy.

These courses can be fulfilled through Pitt-Recognized or Exchanges. 

War and terrorism affect all who are exposed to these traumatic experiences, including children.  This course will provide students with an opportunity to learn more about the psychological impact of conflict and adversity on young children and their development.  We will explore the importance of environmental supports, especially caretaking behavior and the role of attachment in resilience and coping.  Interventions for children and families exposed to trauma will be examined. 

This course investigates the aims and principles of developmental psychology as a scientific discipline, and describes the methods used to obtain knowledge about children and their development. Issues such as children's early attachments, the development of the self, the emergence of consciousness, and the role of play are examined, with an emphasis on the role of education and child care practices and policies in the UK in shaping children's development.