32484 - Techniques of Intervention in the Cultural Mediation

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course student knows the main psychological theories related to acculturation and cultural mediation, and to group conflicts; he knows the psychological dynamics and skills related to the cultural mediator and how to design educational interventions in the fields of cultural mediation and social inclusion. Students also will be able to manage the practice of mediation, included communication and psychological skills.

Course contents

The course will be divided in two parts : the first will deal with the themes of social exclusion and ostracism. The topics will be treated from the point of view of social psychology, focusing on the processes and the psychological consequences that social exclusion can have on people . The second part will be on the conflicts and the mediation process as preventive practice of conflict .

The contents of the course are the following:

 1. Theoretical specification of the concept of exclusion, ostracism and culture(s) from a psycho-social and cultural psychology point of view. An overview of Italian and foreign literature is given in relation these arguments 

2. Theory of mediation is discussed widely (what it is, its milestones, what it consists of). Various types of mediation are taken as examples: cultural, political and familiar mediation.

• 3. Cultural mediators (characteristics and skills) as well as mediation strategies are analysed, in order to point out their communicative aspects (empathic listening...).
• 4. Mediation is analysed from a broad point of view, as well as discussion on power relation, professional and existential dilemmas, but also adequate solutions found out by mediators.

Readings/Bibliography

Texts required for attending studentes and not   

Andolfi M. (a cura di) (2009) La mediazione culturale. Tra l'estraneo e il familiare, Milano, FrancoAngeli.
Villano P. (2013) Fuori dai giochi. La psicologia di fronte all'esclusione sociale , Milano, Pearson Mondadori.  
Villano P. e Riccio B. (2008) Culture e mediazioni , Bologna, Il Mulino 

One book chosen from this list:

1) Ardone R. e Chiarolanza C. (2007) Relazioni affettive. I sentimenti nel conflitto e nella mediazione , Bologna, Il Mulino.   

2) Mazzetti M. (2013) Il dialogo transculturale, Roma, Carocci.     

3) Mucchi Faina A. (2006) Comunicazione interculturale, Roma-Bari, Laterza.  
4) Tognetti Bordogna M. (2014) Donne e percorsi migratori. Per una sociologia delle migrazioni, Milano, Franco Angeli.

5) Villano P. (2013) Pregiudizi e stereotipi , Roma, Carocci

Assessment methods

Written test (4 open questions)

Teaching tools

lessons with slides

Office hours

See the website of Paola Villano