03125 - Economic Psychology

Learning outcomes

The course aims to describe psychological processes underlying economic behaviours, and particularly economic behaviours related to work and organizational environment.

A main issue of the course is to show how income management (saving, spending, investing, job retiring) are influenced by the representation of the economic system and economic processes. Thus, the course will focus on the relationship between psychology and economic behaviors both in the organizational and societal life.

Course contents

1. Definition and issues of Economic Psychology

2. Perception and Representations of economic systems and actors

3. Work, Meaning of Money, Incentives and Rewards, Pay satisfaction, Retirement

4. Society, Money and Income Satisfaction, CUstomer Satisfaction and E-Commerce.

Readings/Bibliography

Books to be read for the examination are:

WEBLEY P., BURGOYNE C., LEA S., YOUNG, B. (2004) Psicologia economica della vita quotidiana, Bologna: Il Mulino (cap. 1= pp. 13-40; cap. 3= 77-122; capp. 5 e 6=  159-237).

ZAPPALÀ S., SARCHIELLI G. (a cura di) (2001) Prospettive di psicologia economica. Le decisioni sul denaro nella vita quotidiana delle famiglie. Milano: Guerini studio (TUTTO)

KIRCHLER E., ZAPPALÀ S. (1995) La psicologia economica: un nuovo campo della psicologia applicata, in Giornale Italiano di Psicologia, 22, 1, 27-62

MCKENNA (2006) Human resource practices: rewards, training and development, in IDEM, Business psychology and organizational behaviour (cap. 18 = pp 606 – 619; Last edition)

Thierry H. (1998) Compensating work, in Drenth P. et al. (eds.) Handbook of work and organizational psychology, Vol. 4 – Organizational psychology, pp. 291-319.

BATTISTELLI A. (2001) Imprenditorialità: La ricerca empirica, in IDEM, I giovani e la scelta imprenditoriale. Milano: Guerini studio (cap. 1 = pp. 19-49).

MANNETTI L., PIERRO A. (2004) La previsione dei comportamenti di consumo: atteggiamenti e altre variabili rilevanti, in L. Mannetti (a cura di) introduzione alla psicologia economica, Roma, Carocci (pp. 115 - 139).

MARIANI M.G. (2007) Percezione del rischio ed emozioni nei comportamenti di acquisto: aspetti teorici ed evidenze empiriche. Risorsa Uomo. vol. 13, pp. 341 – 357.

 

 

 

B) ADDITIONAL Reading materials for students

b1) with a percentage of absence at classes between 40 and 50%  - they are expected to study:

- material of section A

- also chapters 2, 4 and Conclusion of the volume by Webley-Burgoyne-Lea-Young.

 

b2) with a percentage of absence at classes equal or greater than 60%  - they are expected to study:

- material of section A

- chapters 2, 4 and Conclusion of the volume by Webley-Burgoyne-Lea-Young.

- and chapters 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 by Rumiati, Rubaltelli e Mistri (2008) Psicologia economica, Roma: Carocci.

 

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures will be conducted by the professor; addittionally active participation of students will be solicited through cases discussions, role playing, readings and discussions on short research papers. Managers and Human Resources Mangers of private and public organizatons will present relevant cases and surveys concerning Salary management and Pay satisfaction conducted in their own company.

 

Assessment methods

The examination is formed by three assignments:

1) A reaction paper (commenting some news about economic events, taken form newspapers), of 2 pages.

2) A written examination: consisting of 6 open questions.

3) An essay (of between 5 - 6 pages) on a specific issue of the course. It will have to be delivered one week before the written examination.

Office hours

See the website of Salvatore Zappalà