SC559-7-AU-CO:
Emotions and Society

The details
2023/24
Sociology and Criminology
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
20
26 May 2023

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

Emotions – a topic once pursued by relatively few psychologists and natural scientists – are now one of the most researched fields across disciplines. Emotion studies in the social sciences can be traced back to Max Weber and Norbert Elias, but the field has grown rapidly in the last three decades. This module aims to introduce the field of emotion studies in the social sciences, and to offer graduates conceptual and methodological tool kits for investigating emotions in their own research. It presents some of the major sub-disciplines, namely social constructionism, psycho-social approach, affect theory, and neuro-sociology. First, we will present the difficulties in defining the subject, i.e., the main debates over what emotions are and how to define them. We will then focus on psycho-social approaches to emotions, while the last five sessions will be devoted to sociological, anthropological and historical studies in specific emotions, including love and loss, fear and trauma.

Module aims

Introducing students to the sub-discipline of emotion studies'

Presenting the main approaches and debates in the field and their relation to cognate disciplines of sociology, history, psychoanalysis and cultural studies

Developing a critical understanding of different disciplinary, conceptual and methodological approaches

Providing students with methodological tools to do their own research on emotions

Module learning outcomes

1. Understanding of the different ways in which emotions have been conceived across disciplines, including sociology, history, psychoanalysis and cultural studies
2. Knowledge and critical understanding of key studies in the field
3. The ability to critically examine concepts of emotion and their relation to cognate disciplines
4. The capacity to apply conceptual approaches to the empirical study of emotions past and present

Module information

Autumn Term
Topic 1 - week 2: Emotions: definitions and debates
Topic 2 - week 3 The study of 'subjectivity': psycho-social approaches to emotion
Topic 3 - week 4 Emotions in History: From the ‘Civilizing Process’ to ‘Archives of Feeling’
Topic 4 - week 5 Emotions in the life sciences
Topic 5 - week 6 Emotions and politics: The case of happiness
Topic 6 - week 7 Global emotions – is there such a thing?
Topic 7 - week 8 On Ugly Feelings: The Case of Envy
Topic 8 - week 9 Loneliness and Solitude
Topic 9 - week 10 Grief
Topic 10 - week 11: Shame and Body: The case of body-hair

Learning and teaching methods

Most modules at postgraduate level in Sociology are taught as a 2hr seminar. Most classes, labs and seminars will be taught face-to-face (assuming social distancing allows this). There may also be some online activities – either timetabled as a live online session or available on Moodle in the form of pre-recorded videos. You will be expected to watch this material and engage with any suggested activities before your seminar/class each week. Please note that you should be spending up to ten hours per week undertaking your own private study (reading, preparing for classes or assignments, etc.) on each of your modules (e.g. 30 hours in total for three 20--credit modules). This module SC559 will include a range of activities to help you and your teachers to check your understanding and progress. These are mainly include engaging with several specific websites on the field, watching documentaries films (see below), and contributing to the Moodle forum. You are strongly encouraged to attend the classes/seminars as they provide an opportunity to talk with your class teacher and other students. The classes/seminars will be captured and available via Listen Again. However, if you want to gain the most you can from these seminars/classes it is very important that you attend and engage. Please note that the recording of seminars/classes is at the discretion of the teacher.

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Book review - 500 words    20% 
Coursework   Essay - 2,000 words    80% 

Additional coursework information

Mid-term report (1,000 words) 25% Class presentation. To be done in groups of two or three (10-15 mins) 25% Essay (4,000 words) 50% Please note that assessment information is currently showing for 2018-19 and will be updated in August 2019

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Shaul Bar Haim, email: sbarhaim@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Shaul Bar Haim
socpgtad@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
No
Yes

External examiner

Dr Umut Erel
Open University
Senior Lecturer
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Sociology and Criminology

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