BERGAMO
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students will have developed both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to understand, analyze, and effectively engage in interpersonal and group contexts, with particular attention to settings shaped by cultural diversity and the social transformations brought about by migration. They will gain a deep understanding of the characteristics of primary and social groups, as well as intra-group and inter-group dynamics, and will be able to recognize and interpret these processes in both their functional and dysfunctional aspects. Students will also learn to identify the impact of cultural differences on these dynamics and on interpersonal communication, fostering the intercultural sensitivity that is increasingly essential in clinical and educational settings. They will be able to recognize critical issues and build on emerging strengths within immigrant families, with particular focus on intergenerational dynamics and the challenges of social integration. Finally, students will be equipped to support intercultural couples in their processes of identity construction, communication, and negotiation, identifying sources of conflict linked to cultural differences and promoting relational balance based on mutual recognition.
Course Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Teaching activities will include lectures (accompanied by PowerPoint presentations, which will be uploaded to the course’s e-learning platform), analysis of audiovisual materials, and individual and small-group exercises designed to provide hands-on experience with key topics covered in the course. Small-group workshop activities will also be organized, aimed at developing intervention strategies to support intercultural couples experiencing high levels of conflict. Students will be actively encouraged to engage in all activities through discussion, debate, and the proposal of topics for further exploration.
Assessment Methods
Assessment is carried out through a written exam lasting 90 minutes. The exam consists of 4 open-ended questions aimed at evaluating students’ understanding of the course topics and their ability to critically and reflectively analyze group and interpersonal dynamics. Each question is worth up to 7/8 points, based on the following criteria: a) relevance, accuracy, and completeness of the response; b) use of appropriate discipline-specific terminology; c) ability to apply acquired knowledge in a critical and original way (e.g., making connections, integrating concepts). The final grade is expressed on a 30-point scale. Exam results will be communicated to each student via their institutional email through the university’s online system.
Students who attend the course regularly will be given specific questions based on the content covered during the lectures. These students may also take a written midterm exam lasting 45 minutes, covering the portion of the syllabus addressed up to that point. The exam will consist of 2 open-ended questions, assessed according to the criteria previously outlined. The topics covered in the midterm will not be reassessed during the final exam. The date of the midterm will be announced by the professor at the beginning of the course. Sign-up sheets will be made available during class sessions. The results will be posted on the course’s e-learning page and the score obtained will be added to the score from the 2 open-ended questions of the final exam (also 45 minutes long), which will cover the remaining part of the syllabus. The midterm and its corresponding grade are valid only for the current academic year (until March/April 2027).
Contents
The course begins with an overview of the main types of groups. It then explores key group characteristics and dynamics—both functional and dysfunctional—highlighting their cultural specificity. Topics include the relationship between the individual and the group; inclusion and social identity; initiation processes and socialization into group life; group development and cohesion; group structure (norms, roles, relationships); and conflict and cooperation both within and between groups.The course then turns to intercultural communication, adopting a critical perspective on ethnocentrism. It concludes by focusing on the dynamics, challenges, and resources of immigrant families and intercultural couples.
Online Resources
More information
ATTENDING STUDENTS. In place of Text 2 listed in the syllabus, attending students may study the lecture slides and their own notes. Non-attending students are required to study all the texts indicated in the reading list.
WORKSHOPS. In parallel with the lectures, workshop activities will be offered, organized in small groups and aimed at identifying intervention strategies to support intercultural couples experiencing high-conflict situations, through case analysis and simulations. Participation in the workshops is optional and subject to prior registration.
ERASMUS STUDENTS. Erasmus students may take the written exam in English, provided they make arrangements with the instructor in advance. Please note that an English edition of Text 1 is available (Forsyth, R. (2019). Group Dynamics. Seventh Edition. Cengage Learning), and students may prepare for the exam using this edition. As for the other texts, students who wish to prepare for and take the exam in English are kindly requested to contact the professor.