Psychology MA, Emotion Expression, Perception and Regulation, 7.5 credits

Aim

This course aims to provide an introduction into classical research and into recent research developments in the field of emotional expression/perception and emotion regulation. Connections to emotion theories will be drawn.

Course objectives

After completing the course, students will:

Knowledge and understanding
• Be able to identify and describe the connections between emotion theory (different research traditions) and different approaches to the study of emotion expression, emotion perception and emotion regulation.
• Be able to identify and describe central concepts and aspects in the field of emotion expression, emotion perception and emotion regulation.
• Be able to describe how such concepts/aspects can be applied within selected fields (e.g. health, education or work psychology).'
• Demonstrate basic theoretical knowledge on how research questions and hypotheses about emotion expression, perception and emotion regulation can be tested in a scientific way.

Skills and abilities
• Be able to search, find and report (in scientific writing style) additional information on new theoretical developments in the field of emotional expression, emotion perception, emotion regulation.
• Be able to search, find and report (in scientific writing style) applied research on emotional expression, emotion perception, emotion regulation.
• Demonstrate basic skills in developing own research questions and hypotheses about emotion expression, emotion perception and emotion regulation, based on the existing literature.

Judgement and approach
• Be able to evaluate and discuss (both orally and in writing) recent developments and applications on/for research on emotional expression, perception, or regulation.
• Show ability to – based on scientific arguments – evaluate and discuss other students' research questions, hypotheses and proposed ways of investigating them in the areas of emotion expression, perception and emotion regulation.

Content

In this course, emotional expression refers primarily to nonverbal displays of emotion. Research on the perception and regulation of emotions will be discussed, with a focus on social and communicative functions. The evolutionary/biological relevance of emotional expressions will be emphasized. Physiological as well as behavioral and felt aspects of emotion expression, perception and regulation will be considered. Implications of emotion regulation for mental health will be discussed. Students will address selected areas of basic and applied research in individual and group assignments.

Entry requirements

A bachelor´s degree of at least 180 credits (ECTS) with a major in psychology.

English course 6/English course B from Swedish Upper Secondary School (Gymnasium) or the equivalent.

Selection rules and procedures

The selection process is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance and the local order of admission.

Teaching form

The course is primarily taught by distance (i.e., through online lectures, seminars and interactions as well as through individual and group assignments to be
submitted online). However, it also includes mandatory in-person participation in a meeting, which takes place at the end of the course, on campus in Östersund (Sweden), and lasts two days. The meeting includes 1. an oral presentation (examination), relating to the final assignment of the course. 2. participation in a conference within the field of Emotion Psychology.

All parts of the course are a basis for the examination, and for scheduled examinations attendance are compulsory. Students are required to actively use the university's learning platform. The platform is the primary communication tool used for students and teachers, and students will find important information needed to complete the course in the course room.

Examination form

1101: Assignment Reports, 2 Credits
Grade scale: Two-grade scale

2101: Seminars, 1.5 Credits
Grade scale: Two-grade scale

3101: Written assignment and oral presentation, 4 Credits
Grade scale: Seven-grade scale, A-F o Fx

The course will be examined in three ways:
1. Completion of assignment reports (e.g., quizzes, to be submitted essays or other individual or group work tasks),
2. Active participation in online seminars and discussions (e.g., asking questions, contributing to discussions, oral presentations of individual or group assignments),
3. Written final assignment (e.g., proposal for a research project or reviews) and oral presentation (e.g., discussion of own and other students’ final assignments as part of the in-person meeting, poster presentation and other contributions to the in-person conference). A re-examination opportunity for an oral presentation is given in connection with the next campus meeting. Valid absence from examination for oral presentation can be replaced by an oral presentation at a supplementary seminar.

All examinations take place in English.

The final grade of the course is obtained when all examinations on the course are passed.
Link to subject-specific criteria for marks www.miun.se/betygskriterier

The examiner has the right to offer alternative examination arrangements to students who have been granted the right to special support by Mid Sweden University’s disabilities advisor.

Examination restrictions

Students registered on this version of the syllabus have the right to be examined three (3) times within one (1) year according to this syllabus. After that, the latest version of the syllabus applies.

Grading system

Seven-grade scale, A-F o Fx

Other information

This course is being taught in English.

Course certificate, credit transfers, appeals etc are regulated by the Higher Education Ordinance.

The course can not be included in a degree together with the course code PS054A.