Special Topics Research Seminar (525-0-31)

Topic

Emotion

Instructors

Nathan Walter

Meeting Info

Frances Searle Building 2370: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

This course introduces students to the empirical study of emotion through the lens of media psychology, exploring how these automatic response systems shape—and are shaped by—the media we create, share, and consume. We begin by asking a deceptively simple question: What is an emotion? To answer the question, we trace the history of emotions, compare how they were understood "then and now," distinguish it from similar, albeit distinct constructs, and examine the idea of emotion as Earth's first language—a communicative system that predates spoken words, modern culture, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence. The course further explores how emotions work at biological, cognitive, and social levels, engaging with a variety of theories, emphasizing both the intuitive and basic aspects of emotions, as well as their complex and culturally embedded nature. Moreover, the course highlights how media representations of these emotions influence perception, memory, decision-making, and social behavior. This course is ideal for students curious about how emotions—from love, awe, and disgust, to anger, joy, surprise, and shame—shape our experiences with media and, in turn, our understanding of ourselves and others.