Classes

Psychology 153 - The Psychology of Emotion

This class provides a selective overview of the scientific study of emotion. The first part of the course will focus on contrasting theoretical perspectives on emotion (including facial expressions, subjective experience, and physiological responses). The rest of the course will focus on particular emotions (such as anger, fear, and jealousy) and on specific topics including emotion regulation, individual differences, health implications, and cognition and emotion.

Psychology 193 – Animal Emotion 

This is a small seminar style course that focuses on emotions in a number of nonhuman animal species, including contrasting/comparing such states with emotions in humans. Here is a sample of the types of topics that may be covered:

Do dogs display jealousy when they lose their owners affection? Are humans the only animal that experiences empathy and compassion? What are the nonverbal displays of emotions in different animals (e.g., victory squeal in dolphins)? In discussing these types of topics, we will seek to understand how and why some animal species developed particular emotions as well as how similar emotions function in different species. Given that there are not long formal lectures, students are required to read the articles before class and come prepared to participate in discussing the assigned readings.

Psychology 158 - Interpersonal Relationships

This course examines theories and empirical work pertaining to interpersonal relationships. A variety of topics are covered such as interpersonal attraction, gender differences in mate preferences, cross-cultural perspectives on love, communication and conflict in relationships. The emphasis is on romantic relationships, although other types of relationships will also be covered.

Psychology 205 - Graduate Course on Emotion

This seminar provides a selective overview of the scientific study of affect and emotion. The course may cover readings on 1) theoretical perspectives and debates on emotion (e.g. Appraisal theories, Domasio's Somatic Marker Hypothesis); 2) brain mechanisms and neuroscience of affect; 3) the complex relationship between emotion and cognitive processes (e.g., memory, attention, effects of emotion on decision making); 4) cross-cultural studies of emotion; and 5) the field's renewed interest in characterizing specific emotions (e.g. disgust, embarrassment).