PSYCHOLOGY OF EMOTIONS (2015/2016)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at explaining the current views on emotions, as well as how scholars describe functional and dysfunctional affective processes, through an overview of the principal theories that have characterized the development of the Psychology of the Emotion. The main purpose will be to assist students in the identification of affective dynamics in order to develop competences in terms of describing and managing these dynamics at individual and group levels. Particular attention will be paid to the processes related to empathy and to the importance of these in interpersonal relationships. In addition, some specific subjects referring to affective dynamics in the workplace (e.g. emotion regulation and “emotion work”) and in the intergroup relationships will be discussed.

Course topics:
• The psychology of emotions and the body of research related to emotions
• The perspective of common people and the perspective of the psychologists
• Some theoretical perspectives from neuropsychology of emotions
• Emotion regulation
• The communicative function of emotions
• Empathy: the multidimensionality of the process of empathy and the various forms of empathy
• Introduction to some models that refers to the empathic process
• The affective dynamics related to some specific fields of application: organizations, intergroup relationships.

Texts:
A) Galati D. (2002). Prospettive sulle emozioni e teorie del soggetto, Torino: Bollati Boringhieri. Chapters: 1, 3, 6 e 7
B) Meneghini A.M. (2010). Sentire e condividere. Componenti psicologiche e correlati biologici dell’empatia, Firenze: SEID.
C) Scherer K.R. (2015). Where and Why Are Emotions Disturbed? Suggestions Based on Theory and Data From Emotion Research, Emotion Review, 7(3), 238-249.
D) Smith E.R., Mackie D.M. (2015). Dynamics of Group-Based Emotions: Insights From Intergroup Emotions Theory, Emotion Review, 7(4), 349-354.
E) Ashkanasy N.M. & Humphrey R.H. (2011). Current Emotion Research in Organizational Behavior, Emotion Review, 3(2), 214–224.

Written exam with open questions.

STUDENT MODULE EVALUATION - 2015/2016