Unit information: Emotions in Contemporary Society - 3rd year in 2019/20

Unit name	Emotions in Contemporary Society - 3rd year
Unit code	SOCI30066
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Perrier
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit introduces students to the critical study of emotions from an interdisciplinary perspective. What are the links between inequalities, identities and emotions and how do emotions participate in creating social, cultural and political boundaries between self and other? We consider the emotional dimension of issues of racism, classism, misogyny, and nationalism and critically examine the role of emotion in reproducing and challenging social inequalities. The unit introduces students to different conceptual models of emotion, with a view to understanding what sociological theorising can contribute to understanding emotions and how it might compliment other traditional psychological models of emotion. We consider a range of social science concepts such as affect, the unconscious, emotional labour, therapeutic culture which students are encouraged to apply in different social contexts e.g. in the workplace, health, politics using a range of sources such as advertising, film, TV, music and literature.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:

• Evaluate and combine different conceptual approaches to emotions
• Apply this theoretical knowledge to analyse emotions in a range of empirical contexts and to their own lived experience.
• Demonstrate critical and detailed knowledge of the role of emotions in reproducing and challenging social inequalities

Teaching Information

1hr lecture and 2hr seminar

Assessment Information

Formative Student group presentations

Summative 3000 word essay (100%)

Reading and References

Bendelow, G. and Williams, S. J. (Eds.) (1997) Emotions in Social Life: Critical Themes and Contemporary Issues Routledge London.

Barbalet, J. (2001) Emotion, Social Theory, and Social Structure, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Craib, I. (1989) Psychoanalysis and Social Theory: The Limits of Sociology, Harvester Wheatsheaf, London.

Ahmed, S. (2004) The Cultural Politics of Emotion Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Clarke, S. (2003) Social Theory, Psychoanalysis and Racism London: Palgrave.

Clarke, S., Hoggett, P. and Thompson, S. (eds.), Emotion, politics and society, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. (all chapters)