Advanced Topics in Social Psychology: The Emotions

Jon Haidt, Psychology 270

University of Pennsylvania

Fall, 1994, Mondays 1:00-3:50

In this course we will try to figure out what emotions are and how they work by doing three different kinds of psychology. We will start off as evolutionary psychologists looking at emotions as survival-enhancing socio-biological adaptations. Then we will become cultural psychologists, viewing emotions as social processes that express and enact cultural meanings, values and goals. Next we will turn ourselves into clinical psychologists to see what happens in cases of emotional psychopathology. As a result of these morphings we will end up as broad-minded social psychologists able to explain how emotions are the foundation of human social and moral life.

Readings: 1)Frank, R. (1987). Passions within reason. 2)Abu-Lughod, L. (1986). Veiled sentiments. [Both books at Penn Bookstore] 3)Two bulk-packs, at Campus Copy.

Course requirements: 1)Substantial final paper, 2)Midterm project on emotion diaries, and 3)Good attendance and participation.

Office hours: Tues, 4-5, or by appointment. Eisenlohr Annex 404. 573-9302.

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Sep. 12: Introduction: What are emotions? Some history, some physiology.

Sep. 19: The Evolutionary view. Read: Frank, to p. 134.

Sep. 26: Read: 1)Frank, to end (p.259);

2)Darwin, Charles (1965/1872). The expression of the emotions in man and animals. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (Selections)

Oct. 3: Read: 1)Ekman, Paul. (1993). An argument for basic emotions. Cognition and Emotion, 6, 169-200.

2)Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Progress on a cognitive-motivational-relational theory of emotion. American Psychologist, 46, 819-834.

Oct. 10: The cultural view. Read: Abu-lughod, p.1-167.

Oct. 17: No class (Fall break).

Oct. 24: Read: 1)Abu-Lughod, p.171-259;

2)Lutz, C., & White, G. (1986). The anthropology of emotions. Annual Review of Anthropology, 15, 405-436.

Oct. 31: Read: 1)Shweder, R. A. (1992). The cultural psychology of the emotions. In M. Lewis & J. Haviland (Eds.), The Handbook of Emotions. New York: Guilford Publications.

2)Masson, J. L., & Patwardhan, M. V. (1970). Aesthetic rapture: the Rasadhyaya of the Natyasastra. Poona, India: Deccan College.

Nov. 7: The clinical view: Sociopathy. Emotion diary project due. Read: 1)Cleckley, H. (1955). The mask of sanity, 3rd ed. St. Louis: C. V. Mosby. (selections).

2)McCord, W. (1982). The psychopath and milieu therapy. New York: Academic Press.

Nov 14: Sociopathy, continued, and Social Phobia. Read:1)Brantley, P. J. & Sutker, P. B. (1984). Antisocial behavior disorders. In H. Adams & P. Sutker (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychopathology. New York: Plenum.

2)Tearnan, B. H. & Telch, M. J. (1984). Phobic disorders. In H. Adams & P. Sutker (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychopathology. New York: Plenum.

Nov. 21: Social Phobia, continued. Read: 1)Turner, S. M. & Beidel, D. C. (1989). Social phobia: Clinical syndrome, diagnosis, and comorbidity. Clinical Psychology Review, 9, 3-18.

2)Trower, P. & Gilbert, P. (1989) New theoretical conceptions of social anxiety and social phobia. Clinical Psychology Review, 9, 19-35.

Nov. 28: Case study: shame/embarrassment/guilt. Read: 1)Silver, M., Sabini, J., & Parrott, J. (1987). Embarrassment: A dramaturgic account. Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior, 17, 47-61.

2)Thrane, Gary (1979). Shame. Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior, 9.

Dec. 5: Case study: disgust. Read: 1) Rozin, P., Haidt, J., & McCauley, C. (1993). Disgust. (Handbook of emotions).

2) Haidt, J., Rozin, P., McCauley, C., & Imada, S. (in press). Body, psyche, and culture: The relationship of disgust to morality. In G. Misra (Ed.) The cultural construction of social cognition. Sage Publications.

Dec. 12: Course conclusion. No reading. Final paper due.