Prospectus

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Cognitive Psychology: The influence of Emotion on Cognition

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Required course(s):

Introduction to Psychology

Recommended course(s):

Social Psychology

Description

Historically, emotions are considered the opponent of rational thinking, however, recent research suggests that emotion interacts with cognition from low level processes, such as sensation and perception, to higher level processes, such as decision making and social cognition. This course addresses the interaction of human emotion and cognition. It provides a general introduction into the basic science of emotion, by providing an overview of the main emotion theories, including evolutionary and social theories, and covers the physiological and neural underpinnings of emotion. The course highlights the emotion-cognition interaction in a number of classic research domains in cognitive psychology, such as perception, attention, and memory. Moreover, it also delves into the role of this complex interaction in social contexts by reviewing studies on the empathic brain.

Course Objectives

The general objective is to provide a solid theoretical background for the understanding of emotional processes and a selective overview of research areas investigating interactions between emotion and cognition. The sessions will provide students with the necessary background to understand and appreciate the different approaches to emotion and cognition, the different research goals these approaches have, and the different research methods they use.

After successful completion of this course, students are able to:

  • distinguish the different perspectives on emotion

  • describe specific effects of valence and arousal on (neuro)physiological and psychological processes

  • apply the gained theoretical knowledge to an everyday problem/situation

  • evaluate and interpret studies investigating the interaction between emotion and cognition

  • write a research proposal that investigates emotion and cognition interaction experimentally

Timetable

Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2024-2025 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.

Mode of instruction

The course will consist of interactive-lectures and workgroups.

Assessment Method

  • Written research proposal (30%)

  • Presentation of scientific article (15%)

  • Written blog (25%)

  • In class assignments (2*10%)

  • Class attendance and participation in workgroup sessions (10%)

Reading list

Consists of scientific articles that will be announced prior to the start of the course.

Registration

Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.

Contact

Dr. Manon Mulckhuyse, m.g.j.mulckhuyse@fsw.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks

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