Emotional Mysteries HDPS 351 Fall Quarter 2016

Transcription

1 1 Emotional Mysteries HDPS 351 Fall Quarter 2016 Meetings Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 AM - 10:50 PM Annenberg Hall Room 303 Instructor: Dr. Claudia M. Haase claudia.haase@northwestern.edu Office: Annenberg Hall 108 Office Hours: To schedule an appointment, please visit Overview Classrooms, work settings, and family relations are hotbeds of emotion. But what is an emotion? What happens in our bodies when an emotion is triggered? How can emotions help us live productive, healthy, and connected lives? And can we ever truly understand what somebody else is feeling? These are some of the mysteries that we will seek to unravel in this course. We will read literature from Darwin to the latest scientific studies, combine lectures and small-group discussions, conduct research experiments, and engage in peer review and online collaboration. Learning Goals As a student in this course, you will: Gain knowledge of major theoretical perspectives, concepts, and empirical findings in affective science (e.g., by reading, reflecting on, and discussing videos, readings, and course contents) [Emotion knowledge] Understand, evaluate, and apply basic scientific methods (e.g., by writing a blog post about a favorite emotion study, developing an emotion intervention proposal) [Scientific knowledge] Apply knowledge of emotional mysteries to real-world questions [Application] Communicate effectively in a variety of formats (e.g., through questions, polls, in-class discussions, blog posts, intervention proposals, peer review) [Communication] Respect and use critical thinking [Critical thinking skills] Course Materials We will read excerpts from books listed below, which have been written by some of the most influential scholars in the field of affective science: Textbook: Keltner, D., Oatley, K., & Jenkins, J. M. (2013). Understanding emotions (3 rd ed.). Wiley. Available for purchase [KOJ] Readings Available for download on CANVAS under Files Online resources (e.g., YouTube clips; Ted Talks) Available via links in this syllabus Lecture slides Available on Canvas after each class

2 2 Assignments and Grading Class participation (10%). You want to participate actively in class by showing up on time, listening, thinking, and discussing. Questions & polls (20%). You want to deeply engage with the videos and readings. First, submit 2 questions that address substantial issues regarding 2 (or more) different videos or readings for each class session by 5pm the day before class (via Canvas AND via Google questions link in Canvas). Second, vote on the top 3 questions that you would like to discuss in class (via Canvas AND via Google poll link in Canvas) between 5pm the day before class and 9am the day of class. Questions and polls will be graded as pass (1 point) or fail (if you did not turn in your 2 questions on time; did not complete the poll on time; or the questions you turned in did not address substantial issues regarding the videos or readings for that class session, 0 points). Emotion study blog post (20%). You will write a blog post (at least 5 doublespaced pages) about one original empirical study, which has been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and which examines a research topic relevant to emotion. For your blog post, (1) summarize the theoretical and empirical background, research question(s), method, main findings, and implications of the study; (2) evaluate strengths and limitations of the study; and (3) discuss how findings from the study relate to what you have learned in this course. (4) Use APA style and include a title page and a reference page. (5) Tell us if we can publish your blog post (anonymously if you like) on CANVAS. Please submit your blog post on Tuesday, 10/25/2016 by 5pm (via Canvas). Emotion intervention proposal (5% for topic and references; 5% for draft; 40% for final paper). You will write a proposal, which harnesses insights from affective science to propose and evaluate an emotion intervention. We will discuss details in class. There are three important dates for your proposal. First, submit your proposal topic and at least 5 references by Thursday, 11/10/2016, 5pm (on Canvas). Second, bring a printed draft of your proposal (2 double-spaced pages) to class on Tuesday, 11/22/2016 and submit it by 11/22/2016, 9am (on Canvas). In class on 11/22/2016, you will engage in peer review by reading, commenting on, and discussing suggestions for revisions for each other s drafts. Third, submit your final emotion intervention proposal (at least 15 double-spaced pages) by Thursday, 12/8/2016, 5pm (on Canvas). Late policy. Please submit all your assignments on time. If you turn in an assignment late, you will lose a half-letter grade (A -> A-) for each day the assignment is late. How to Succeed in this Course Before class: Deeply engage with assigned videos and readings Submit questions and vote During class: Listen, think, discuss After class:

3 3 Review lecture slides Start working on blog post and emotion intervention proposal early Get in touch with me if you have questions, suggestions, need help or want feedback Evaluation There will be an anonymous course evaluation about halfway through the course. This will give me an idea of what works for you in this course and what you need to learn even better. Academic Integrity Students in this course are required to comply with the policies found in the booklet, "Academic Integrity at Northwestern University: A Basic guide". All papers submitted for credit in this course must be submitted electronically unless otherwise instructed by the professor. Your written work may be tested for plagiarized content. For details regarding academic integrity at Northwestern or to download the guide, visit: Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Any student with a disability requesting accommodations must register with Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD; ssd@northwestern.edu; ) and request an SSD accommodation notification for his/her professor, preferably within the first two weeks of class. All information will remain confidential. Captions are available for YouTube videos and transcripts are available for TED Talks.

4 4 WEEK 1 WELCOME 9/20/ Welcome 9/22/ Affective Science and Inside Out WATCH Inside Out (available on YouTube, itunes, Amazon Video, Google Play) READ Keltner, D., & Ekman, P. (2015). The science of 'Inside Out'. The New York Times, SR10. WEEK 2 WHAT IS AN EMOTION? 9/27/ Origins of Emotion READ Darwin, C. (1872). The expression of the emotions in man and animals. London: John Murray. (pp ) READ KOJ Chapter 1: Approaches to understanding emotions (pp. 3-30) 9/29/ Communication of Emotions WATCH Paul Ekman: Inside the Psychologist's Studio READ KOJ Chapter 4: Communication of emotions (pp ) WEEK 3 EMOTIONS UNDER THE MAGNIFYING GLASS 10/4/ Emotions and the Body WATCH June Gruber: Psychophysiology I (Introduction) READ KOJ Chapter 4: Bodily changes and emotion (pp ) READ Ekman, P., Levenson, R. W., & Friesen, W. V. (1983). Autonomic nervous system activity distinguishes among emotions. Science, 221, /6/ Emotions and Experience READ KOJ Chapter 7: Appraisal, knowledge, and experience (pp ) READ Feldman Barrett, L. (2009). Variety is the spice of life: A psychological construction approach to understanding variability in emotion. Cognition and Emotion, 23, WEEK 4 EMOTIONAL FINGERPRINTS 10/11/ Emotion Generation and Emotion Regulation WATCH June Gruber: Emotion Elicitation I WATCH June Gruber: Emotion Elicitation II READ Gross, J. J., & Thompson, R. A. (2007). Emotion regulation: Conceptual foundations. In J. J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 3-24). New York, NY: Guilford Press. 10/13/ Empathy WATCH Frans de Waal: Moral Behavior in Animals READ Greater Good Science Center: Empathy READ Preston, S. D., & de Waal, F. B. (2002). Empathy: Its ultimate and proximate bases. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 25, 1-20.

5 5 WEEK 5 EMOTION INTERVENTIONS 10/18/ Emotion Interventions 1 WATCH Sherri Sandberg: UC Berkeley Commencement Speech READ Aron, A., Melinat, E., Aron, E. N., Vallone, R. D., & Bator, R. J. (1997). The experimental generation of interpersonal closeness: A procedure and some preliminary findings. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23, READ Pennebaker, J. W., & Ferrell, J. D. (2013). Can expressive writing change emotions? An oblique answer to the wrong question. In D. Hermans, B. Rimé, & B. Mesquita (Eds.), Changing emotions (pp ). New York, NY: Psychology Press. 10/20/ Emotion Interventions 2 WATCH Kelly McGonigal: How to Make Stress your Friend READ Ekman, P., Davidson, R. J., Ricard, M., & Wallace, B. A. (2005). Buddhist and psychological perspectives on emotions and well-being. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 14, READ Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Positive emotions broaden and build. In E. Ashby Plant & P.G. Devine (Eds.), Advances in experimental social psychology, 47, Burlington: Academic Press. 10/25/2016 EMOTION STUDY BLOG POST DUE (5pm) WEEK 6 EMOTION ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN 10/25/ Emotion in Childhood and Adolescence WATCH June Gruber: Emotion Development II (Adolescence) READ Keltner Chapter 8: Development of emotion in children (pp ) READ McLaughlin, K. A., Garrad, M. C., & Somerville, L. H. (2015). What develops during emotional development? A component process approach to identifying sources of psychopathology risk in adolescence. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 17, /27/ Emotion in Aging WATCH Laura Carstensen: Older People Are Happier READ Carstensen, L. L., Isaacowitz, D. M., & Charles, S. T. (1999). Taking time seriously: A theory of socioemotional selectivity. American Psychologist, 54, READ Sze, J. A., Gyurak, A., Goodkind, M. S., & Levenson, R. W. (2012). Greater emotional empathy and prosocial behavior in late life. Emotion, 12, WEEK 7 EMOTION AND HEALTH 11/1/ Emotion and Mental Health WATCH June Gruber: Emotional Disorders I (Fear and Anxiety)

6 6 WATCH June Gruber: Emotional Disorders II (Depression and Mania) READ KOJ Chapter 13: Mental disorder and well-being in adulthood (pp ). 11/3/ CLASS 12 Emotion and Physical Health WATCH June Gruber: Physical Health II (Stress) READ DeSteno, D., Gross, J. J., & Kubzansky, L. (2013). Affective science and health: The importance of emotion and emotion regulation. Health Psychology, 32, READ Haase, C. M., Holley, S., Bloch, L., Verstaen, A., & Levenson, R. W. (in press). Interpersonal emotional behaviors and physical health: A 20-year longitudinal study of long-term married couples. Emotion. WEEK 8 EMOTION IN POLITICS AND SCHOOLS 11/8/ Emotion in Politics WATCH Jonathan Haidt: The Moral Roots of Liberals and Conservatives READ KOJ Chapter 10: Emotions and cognition (pp ) 11/10/ Emotion in Schools WATCH Barbara Fredrickson: Positive Emotions Open Our Mind READ Valiente, C., Swanson, J., & Eisenberg, N. (2012). Linking students' emotions and academic achievement: When and why emotions matter. Child Development Perspectives, 6, /10/2016 EMOTION INTERVENTION: TOPIC AND REFERENCES DUE (5pm) WEEK 9 EMOTION ACROSS SOCIAL CLASS AND CULTURE 11/15/ Emotion and Social Class WATCH Paul Piff: Does Money Make You Mean READ Stellar, J. E., Manzo, V. M., Kraus, M. W., & Keltner, D. (2012). Class and compassion: Socioeconomic factors predict responses to suffering. Emotion, 12, READ Troy, A. S., Ford, B. Q., McRae, K., Zarolia, P. & Mauss, I. B. (in press). Change the things you can: Emotion regulation is more beneficial for people from lower than from higher socioeconomic status. Emotion. 11/17/ Emotion and Culture WATCH Jennifer Stellar: How Culture Shapes the Experience of Awe READ KOJ Chapter 3: Cultural understandings of emotions (pp ) 11/22/2016 EMOTION INTERVENTION: PAPER DRAFT DUE (9am) WEEK 10 PEER REVIEW 11/22/ Peer review of emotion intervention paper draft

7 7 WEEK 11 EMOTION IN COUPLES AND SUMMARY 11/29/ Emotion in Couples LISTEN John Gottman: How to Be a Master of Relationship READ Levenson, R. W., Haase, C. M., Bloch, L., Holley, S., & Seider, B. J. (2013). Emotion regulation in couples. In J. J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (2nd ed., pp ). New York, NY: The Guilford Press. 12/01/ Summary 12/8/2016 EMOTION INTERVENTION: FINAL PAPER DUE (5pm)