ANNA LAURA COMUNIAN

Anna Laura Comunian (born 1940) is a specialist in the theoretical and technical
aspects of personality assessment. Her research has employed both qualitative and
quantitative methodology. Her publications include studies of children's drawing,
interpersonal distance, anxiety measures, anger scales, and coping styles. She is
associated with the General Psychology Department of the University of Padua.

Reform in the curriculum for psychology students was enacted in
Italy by a state law in 1985 instituting a more elaborate, up-to-date program,
extending the period for obtaining a degree to 5 years. This period of study
is divided into two subgroups: a first term of 2-year courses and a second
term of 3-year courses.

The first term focuses primarily on basic knowledge of psychology. All
students take nine mandatory courses and three optional ones. On comple-
tion of these courses, they take compulsory examinations in the following
subjects: general psychology, psychodynamics, theories of personality and
individual differences, child development, physiological psychology, social
psychology, general biology, basic anatomy and physiology, and psycho-
metric statistics.

The remaining exams, which are required for completion of the first 2-year
term, can be chosen from anthropology, ethnology, human genetics, meth-
odology of behavioral sciences, general education, sociology, contemporary
philosophy, and the history of psychology. An English-language examina-
tion is also required of all students for enrollment in the second term.

The courses of the 3-year term provide professional preparation. They
include general and experimental studies, developmental and educational
psychology, clinical and community psychology, and psychology of labor
and industrial organization. At the end of the 3-year term each student must
have passed eight mandatory exams and five optional ones. Only then can
application be made for a degree, which is awarded after completion of the
final thesis. This thesis must be prepared during the final year in collabo-

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