The course aims to provide the fundamental elements to define and understand the personality in its multiple expressions, from healthy to pathological. Given the complexity of the theme, the course will adopt a basic psychodynamic perspective with extensive references to other disciplines, such as neuroscience, biological psychiatry, transcultural psychology, cognitivism, and relational approaches.

The program is divided into three parts (2h+3h/settimana):

Part I. Definitions and theoretical models on personality:

• History, definition, and first theories on personality (Lectures 1-2)
• Theories of personality traits, factors, and dimensions (with special reference to the Big Five model) (Lecture 3)
• Attachment theory + cognitive and behavioral theories of personality (Lectures 4-5) 
• Psychodynamic theories + focus on Kernberg's conceptualization of personality (Lectures 6-7)
• DSM, PDM, and the levels of personality, from healthy to pathological (Lecture 8)

Part II. Main personality styles and related pathological drifts (with a particular reference to the narcissistic dimension):

• Schizoid personality and cluster A of personality disorders (Lectures 9-10)
• Borderline area and cluster B of personality disorders (Lectures 11-12)
• Narcissism and narcissistic personality (culture of narcissism +  theories of narcissism + clinical phenomenology of narcissism) (Lectures 13-14-15)
• Dependent personality (intertwines with masochism and relational perversion) and cluster C of personality disorders (Lectures 16-17)

Part III. A general outline of the most effective treatments for personality disorders: 

• Overview of the various therapeutic approaches for personality disorders, according to international guidelines (Lecture 18)
• Specification of PD treatments with the most scientific evidence so far (treatments for BPD): DBT, MBT, TFP, and GPM (Lecture 19)

None.

In relation to the discipline, the student will have to demonstrate the acquisition of:

• Knowledge and understanding: mastery of basic knowledge about personality and its psychopathology. 
• Knowledge and comprehension skills applied: the ability to recognize and distinguish the elements that characterize the different styles and personality disorders, useful for evaluation in different psychological contexts.
• Making judgments: the ability to use knowledge and concepts to start complex reasoning on the personality seen in the health-pathology continuum.
• Communication skills: the ability to use a specific language for describing the phenomena concerning the personality in both healthy and pathological senses.
• Learning skills: upon completion of the course, students will have acquired good autonomy in reading scientific material on the subject and in a critical understanding of the complexity of personological phenomena in a contemporary interdisciplinary perspective to be declined in different application contexts where required.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

There are no teaching supporting activities.

Teaching

• Frontal lectures
• Discussion of clinical cases

Innovative teaching methods

• Use of the University Moodle platform for uploading in-depth material (text, audio, or video); 
• Use of the Wooclap interactive platform to stimulate active student participation and measure the level of understanding of course topics;
• Use of "debate" practice to cover some course topics and facilitate the development of critical thinking.

Attendance

The frequency of the course is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended.

Course books

Lingiardi, V. & Gazzillo, F. (2014). La personalità e i suoi disturbi. Valutazione clinica e diagnosi al servizio del trattamento. Milano: Cortina (only the following chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 17, 23). pp. 362

Madeddu, F. (2020). I mille volti di Narciso. Fragilità e arroganza tra normalità e patologia. Milano: Cortina (Only the following chapters: I, II, III, VI, VII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII). pp. 276

Le Breton, D. (2016). Fuggire da sé. Una tentazione contemporanea. Milano: Cortina. pp. 176

Assessment

Oral exam. 

The evaluation criteria are as follows: 1) relevance and effectiveness of the responses in relation to the contents of the program; 2) degree of articulation of the response; 3) adequacy of the language used.

The final evaluation is expressed in thirtieths (range of scores from a minimum of 18 to a maximum of 30 cum laude).

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

• Frontal lectures
• Discussion of clinical cases
• Integrated digital teaching (uploading of materials on Moodle)

Attendance

The frequency of the course is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended.

Course books

Lingiardi, V. & Gazzillo, F. (2014). La personalità e i suoi disturbi. Valutazione clinica e diagnosi al servizio del trattamento. Milano: Cortina (only the following chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 17, 23). pp. 362

Madeddu, F. (2020). I mille volti di Narciso. Fragilità e arroganza tra normalità e patologia. Milano: Cortina (Only the following chapters: I, II, III, VI, VII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII). pp. 276

Le Breton, D. (2016). Fuggire da sé. Una tentazione contemporanea. Milano: Cortina. pp. 176

Assessment

Oral exam. 

The evaluation criteria are as follows: 1) relevance and effectiveness of the responses in relation to the contents of the program; 2) degree of articulation of the response; 3) adequacy of the language used.

The final evaluation is expressed in thirtieths (range of scores from a minimum of 18 to a maximum of 30 cum laude).

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

• Out-of-course students can study on their academic year of attendance program, but they are invited to notify the Professor by email before the exam.
• ERASMUS students can agree on personalized programs with the Professor and take the exam in Italian and/or English.