Special Topics in Psychology (350-0-5)
Topic
Cognition and Emotion in Everyday Life
Instructors
Almaz Mesghina
Meeting Info
Annenberg Hall G01: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
Why is it so hard to argue without crying? Why do you suck at doing something as soon as you have an audience? Can humans be truly "rational"?
We typically think of cognitive processes (e.g., thinking, deciding, recalling) as being distinct from emotional processes (e.g., feeling, expressing). However, very rarely do these processes explain human behavior in the absence of the other's influence. In this course, we will complicate our understanding of cognition and emotion by exploring some of the many real-world, everyday experiences that can only be explained at the intersection of the two processes. Through readings, in-class discussions, and out-of-class activities and exercises, we will explore a wide array of everyday phenomena (e.g., choking under pressure, lying, shopping) that span different developmental periods (e.g., childhood, adolescence, the elderly), contexts (e.g. school performance, jury duty, social media), and populations (e.g., clinical vs. nonclinical). To understand human behavior, we will take a truly interdisciplinary approach - drawing from a vast literature both within psychology (e.g., social, developmental, cognitive, political, and educational psychology) and across disciplines (e.g., law, health communications, consumer marketing). Ultimately, our discussions, readings, and exercises will equip us to better understand how and why we conduct ourselves the way we do. Course readings will include journal articles and select chapters from popular press books. There is no required textbook. This is a discussion heavy class-you will be expected to co-lead a discussion and submit a group final presentation as part of this class.
Registration Requirements
Recommended Prereq: Psych 110
Class Attributes
Attendance at 1st class mandatory
Prerequisites apply, see description