Key Issues in Emotion Research

Seminar spring semester 2010/2011

Dorota Demicka, MA
Office hours: Tuesdays 4 p.m. 5.30 p.m., room 304
e-mail: ddemicka@psych.uw.edu.pl
Course Description
The aim of the course is to introduce essential theories and discoveries about emotions.
Each class will cover a different topic related to the nature of emotions. The range of issues
was diversified in order to provide students with multidimensional perspective on the subject.
Since the course is designed as a seminar, classes will be a combination of lectures,
presentations, discussions and demonstrations.
Course requirements and grading
Attendance class can be missed once. Second absence results in extra homework.
Students with more then two absences fail the course.

Power Point presentation (in pairs or small groups) 35% of the final grade
Active participation in class (homeworks) 20%
Multiple choice test 45% of the final grade
Schedule of classes

Class 1

Information about the course, requirements and grading, splitting of topics for presentations.
Class 2 What are emotions? Various approaches, different definitions.

Cacioppo J.T. & Gardner W.L. (1999). Emotion. Annual Review of Psychology, 50, 191
214.
Niedethal, P. M., Krauth Gruber, S., Ric, F. (2006). Psychology of emotion.
Interpersonal, experimental and cognitive approaches. New York: Psychology Press.
(Chapter 1: What are emotions and how are they studied).
Class 3 Neurobiology of emotion.

Damasio A.R. (2004). Emotions and Feelings: A Neurobiological Perspective, (In:) A.R.S.
Manstead, N. Frijda i A. Fischer (eds.), Feelings and emotions: The Amsterdam Symposium.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
LeDoux J. E. (1995). Emotion: Clues from the brain. Annual Review of Psychology, 46,
209 35.
Class 4 Unconscious emotions how can they affect our decisions and choices?

Berridge K. C. & Winkielman, P. (2003). What is unconscious emotion? Cognition and

emotion, 17(2), 181 211.
Murphy S. T. & Zajonc, R. B. (1993). Affect, Cognition, and Awareness: Affective Priming
With Optimal and Suboptimal Stimulus Exposures. Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, 64(5), 723-739.
Class 5 Functions of emotions.

Abe, J. A. A., Izard, C. E. (1999). The Developmental Functions of Emotions: An Analysis

in Terms of Differential Emotions Theory. Cognition & Emotion, 13 (5), 523 - 549

Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The Role of Positive Emotions in Positive Psychology : The

Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218-226.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2003). The Value of Positive Emotions. American Scientist, 91(4), 330
335.
Class 6 Emotions across culture do they differ or not?

Oatley K. & Jenkins J. M. (2003). Understanding emotions. Oxford: Blackwell publishing.

(Chapter 2: Cultural understandings of emotions).
Markus H. R. & Kitayama S. (1991). Culture and the Self: Implications for Cognition,
Emotion, and Motivation. Psychological Review, 98 ( 2), 224-253.
Class 7 Emotional intelligence a myth or a scientific discovery?

Mayer J. D., Salovey P., Caruso D. R. (2004). Emotional Intelligence: Theory, Findings,
and Implications. Psychological Inquiry, 15(3), 197-215.
Mayer J. D., Salovey P., Caruso D. R. (2008). Emotional Intelligence. New ability or
eclectic traits? American Psychologist, 63(6), 503-517.
Class 8 Final exam

Additional readings will be provided by the instructor on the first class