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Study information

Emotions, the Body, and the Social

Module titleEmotions, the Body, and the Social
Module codeANT2115
Academic year2024/5
Credits15
Module staff

Mr Stuart Scrase (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

40

Module description

Modern social sciences have tended to sideline and devalue emotions. The traditional and problematic emphasis on ‘rationality’ and ‘consciousness’ in the social sciences has led to a heavy cognitive bias which has increasingly come under scrutiny from academics in disciplines from sociology to neuroscience.

This module will introduce you to the study of emotions as social and cultural phenomena. We will engage with theorizations of emotions drawing from a range of disciplines in order to ask ‘what are emotions?’, and to explore the relation between emotions and cognition, the body, and language. These discussions will provide the theoretical foundations to engage with and reflect upon ‘traditional’ social theories as well as to engage analytically with social phenomena. We will look at how sociologists have examined particular emotions or emotional phenomena, such as road rage, as well as employing theoretical discussions to analyse and reconsider sociological accounts of contemporary social phenomena, such as race and power.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to introduce students to the study and theorisations of emotions in the social sciences.

To provide students with the opportunity to develop conceptual and theoretical understandings of the role of emotions and affect in social life.

To facilitate students’ critical engagement more broadly with sociological theories and themes through the lens of emotion.

To enable students to develop their analytical and research skills and ability to apply theoretical models to the study of social phenomena

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Demonstrate an understanding of, and critically evaluate, competing theoretical perspectives involving the study of emotions
  • 2. Critically evaluate and employ theoretical accounts of emotion to understand the formation and effect of sociological themes

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 3. Apply and critically evaluate relevant social science methods to the study of emotions
  • 4. Demonstrate an analytical understanding of some key sociological and anthropological theories, topics, and methods
  • 5. Demonstrate the capacity to generate and evaluate empirical data through social scientific theories and concepts

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 6. Utilize theoretical and conceptual arguments to identify affective influences shaping biases and perspectives in self and others
  • 7. Demonstrate an ability to undertake and organise independent research and work to deadlines
  • 8. Demonstrate an ability to present and evaluate complex arguments

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics: 

  • Historical contextualisation of emotions in sociology/social sciences - Emotion vs rationality/body vs mind
  • Interdisciplinary engagement with theories of emotion, drawing from psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, anthropology and sociology
  • Affect theory
  • Phenomenology and embodiment
  • Emotions and traditional sociological themes (e.g. race, class, social order & change, power)
  • Sociologies of emotions (e.g. road rage, emotional labour, manners)

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
221280

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching activities2211 x 2 hour weekly lectures/seminars (or 1 hour lecture + 1 hour seminar)
Guided Independent Study48Reading and preparation for lectures and seminars
Guided Independent Study30Preparation for summative case study
Guided Independent Study50Preparation for summative research essay

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay Plan750 words1,2,3,4,8Written & Oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Case Study351,000 words1,2,4,8Written & Oral
Essay 652,750 words1,2,3,5,7,8Written & Oral
0
0
0
0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Case StudyCase Study (1,000 words)1,2,4,8August/September re-assessment period
EssayEssay (2,750 words)1,2,3,5,7,8August/September re-assessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Ahmed, Sara (2014) The Cultural Politics of Emotions, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press

Beatty, A (2019) Emotional Worlds Beyond an Anthropology of Emotions, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Barbalet, Jack (2002) Emotions and Sociology, Oxford: Blackwell

Burkitt, Ian (2014) Emotions and Social Relations, Los Angeles: Sage

Damasio, A (1995) Descartes Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain, London: Picador

Gregg & Seighworth (2010) The Affect Theory Reader, Durham: Duke University Press

James, William (1884) ‘What is an Emotion?’ Mind, 9:34

Katz, Jack (2002). How Emotions Work. Chicago: Chicago University Press

Matias, C E (2016) Feeling White Whiteness, Emotionality, and Education, Sense Publishers

Key words search

Emotions, affect, cognition, the body, race, power, social order

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

No

Module co-requisites

No

NQF level (module)

5

Available as distance learning?

Yes

Origin date

01/01/2022

Last revision date

10/03/2022