Emotions, the Body, and the Social
| Module title | Emotions, the Body, and the Social |
|---|---|
| Module code | SOC2134 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Mr Stuart Scrase (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 22 | 11 x 2 hours per week comprising of lectures and seminars |
| Guided Independent | 48 | Reading and preparation for lectures and seminars |
| Guided Independent | 30 | Preparation for summative essay |
| Guided Independent | 50 | Preparation for summative research essay |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Plan | 750 words | 1,2,3,4,8 | Written & Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case study | 35 | 1,000 words | 1,2,4,8 | Written & Oral |
| Essay | 65 | 2,750 words | 1,2,3,5,7,8 | Written & Oral |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Study | Case Study (1,000 words) | 1,2,4,8 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Essay | Essay (2,750 words) | 1,2,3,5,7,8 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
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
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 13/03/2022 |
| Last revision date | 28/07/2022 |
