Psychodebates

Socratic debates

STAY TUNED!

The next debate is scheduled for December 4th, 2025.
The motion will be: We should give more care and protection to more cognitively complex animals (Mind matters – protect the smartest)

Why a debate?

Academic debates aim to offer the academic community an opportunity to collaborate and engage in a novel and unconventional learning environment. Debating controversial issues promotes self-reflection, critical thinking, teamwork, and public speaking skills. Moreover, participating in a debate educates the audience to listen carefully to opposing arguments, question their own position, appreciate the possibility of changing their opinion, and refine or enrich their reasoning with new perspectives.

When the topic of the debate lies within the multifaceted field of psychology—here come the PsychoDebates!

Why does the DPG support the PsychoDebates within the Wellbeing Program?

Debating is not merely a rhetorical exercise — it is an experience of active listening, understanding others, mutual respect, and emotional regulation. These are all fundamental elements for both individual and collective wellbeing, in academic training as well as in everyday life.

Outline of the Structure of a Debate

Each debate focuses on a controversial issue (motion) — for example, “Animal Testing Should be Banned: for the Cure or for the Creature?”
The arguments and the team of speakers in favor of the motion constitute the Proposition, while the arguments and the team against the motion form the Opposition. A Moderator (either a professor or a student) chairs and coordinates the entire debate. The moderator introduces the motion and the teams, ensures that the rules are respected, and supervises the traditional final voting.

Each speaker has a limited and predefined time (e.g., 3 minutes) to present their arguments and persuade the audience to support their position and, consequently, their team. The debate concludes with a rebuttal, in which one member from each team (typically the leader) summarizes their position and responds to the issues raised by the opposing team. Depending on the format, the debate may be followed by short interventions from the audience, under the guidance of the moderator.

Organization

An appointed Panel, composed of students and professors, is responsible for:

Organizing the annual calendar of debates;
Receiving and evaluating proposals for new debate topics;
Approving and supervising the organization of each individual debate carried out by the Debate Organizers.

Contacts

For more details to submit a debate proposal, and/or to participate as a speaker: debate.psicologia@unipd.it

Previous debates

Two PsychoDebates were organized as part of the Departmental Project for Teaching Improvement – 2023, offering moments in which students and professors engaged in discussions on complex topics with scientific rigor and critical spirit.

Keep Up Appearances!
November 13, 2024
Program (PDF)

Animal Testing Should Be Banned: For the Cure or for the Creature?
December 4, 2024
Program (PDF)
Watch the video on YouTube

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