Educational offer - University of Padova

Syllabus

Prerequisites:	Basic notions on emotion theories and the methods to study emotions. Basic knowledge on research methods, on methods of statistical analysis, and on cognitive, social and cultural processes (and their inter-relationship) as regards, for instance, socialization processes, role transitions, self concept, and interpersonal relationships in various contexts
Target skills and knowledge:	The course aims to help students obtain both an overview of the psychology of emotion field with reference to models and theories on cognitive, social and interpersonal aspects, and its implications for a bettter understanding of many socially relevant issues (from subjective well-being to interpersonal and intergroup relationships), and an in-depth knowledge of theories and experimental results in a number of main emotion topics. The course also aims to help students develop their understanding and analysis-skills of scientific research on emotions.
Examination methods:	About 3-5 written open questions on specific topics dealt with during the course. Students' own work on assigned readings will also be evaluated. The examination focuses on the references listed below, and on the student's mandatory report (on scientific papers dealing with topics agreed upon with the teacher).
Assessment criteria:	Students' performance on the exam will be evaluated in terms of the correctness of his/her answers with regard to the study materials and as regards the extent to which answers display a good understanding of the materials. A third of the assessment will focus on the mandatory report submitted by the student (on topics agreed upon with the teacher)
Course unit contents:	The course will provide a basic overview of emotions as multicomponential phenomena, and outline a few relevant issues, including: functional significance of emotions, emotions' role as determinants of action, basic versus complex emotions, self-conscious emotions, universality versus cultural specificity of emotions (e.g, in feelings, in facial expressions), gender differences, emotions in relationship to group processes. The course will also focus on issues of emotion measurement.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods:	Lectures will be given in English. Students are required to actively take part in the course by working in small groups (e.g., 2-3 students) preparing a written report, that then they will present orally to the class, on 2-3 scientific papers dealing with a specific topic (agreed upon with the teacher), including: - regulation of emotions (e.g., also of expression of emotion) - development and naive theories of emotion knowledge - relationships between emotion and well-being - emotional intelligence in work settings - gender differences in emotion - cultural differences and similarities in emotion By so doing, students will develop critical and synthetizing abilities. In light of the nature and organization of the course, students attendance of the lectures is mandatory from the very beginning.
Additional notes about suggested reading:	Paula M. Niedenthal, Silvia Krauth-Gruber, & François Ric, Psychology of Emotion: Interpersonal, Experiential, and Cognitive Approaches. New York (USA): Psychology Press, 2006. • Students will also write an essay integrating and summarizing two or three scientific research papers on selected emotion topics agreed upon with the teacher
Textbooks (and optional supplementary readings)	Niedenthal, Paula M.; Krauth-Gruber, Silvia, Psychology of emotion interpersonal, experiential, and cognitive approaches Paula M. Niedenthal, Silvia Krauth-Gruber, and Francois Ric. New York: Hove, Psychology Press, 2006.