PSYCHOLOGY OF EMOTIONS (2016/2017)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to explain current views on emotions, and how scholars describe functional and dysfunctional affective processes. This is done by means of an overview of the principal theories that have characterized the development of the Psychology of Emotions. 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, group and organizational 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 linked to affective dynamics in the workplace (e.g. emotion regulation and “emotion work”) and in 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 three open questions. The aim of these questions is to assess the students’ knowledge of the subjects described in the books/chapters/articles listed in the syllabus. The final mark will be the mean score of the evaluations of the student’s responses to the three questions expressed in thirtieths. The assessment methods and criteria will be the same for attending and non-attending students.

STUDENT MODULE EVALUATION - 2016/2017