The module will use the lenses of emotions and affect to explore a range of contemporary sociological issues and sites. Drawing both on feminist approaches and the recent turn to affect and emotion in the social sciences, the course will consider issues of identities, politics and place, in ways that question some of the binaries of social science thinking around public/private, local/global, intimate/political. Students will gain both a broad-based understanding of the theoretical and methodological frameworks for considering emotions sociologically, as well as a more detailed series of topics which use these frameworks in empirical contexts.
The first half of the module will provide the theoretical, conceptual and methodological underpinnings for the sociological study of emotions, around themes of neoliberalism, identities and politics, and methods for studying emotions. The second half of the module will be topic based around themes such as the body, home, work, care, media, violence, friendship and migration.
Total contact hours: 22
Private study hours: 128
Total study hours: 150
BA Criminal Justice and Criminology
BSc Social Sciences
Main assessment methods
Essay (3000 words) - 50%
Project Report (2000 words) - 50%
Reassessment methods
Reassessment Instrument: 100% coursework
Ahmed, S. (2004) The Cultural Politics of Emotion, Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP
Davidson, J, Bondi, L and Smith, M (2004) (eds), Emotional Geographies, London: Routledge
Greco, M. and Stenner, P. (2008) Emotions: A Social Science Reader, London: Routledge
Gregg, M. and Seigworth, G. (2010) (eds) The Affect Theory Reader, Durham and London: Duke UP
Jupp, E, Pykett, J, Smith, F (2016) (eds) Emotional States: sites and spaces of affective governance, London: Routledge
Harris, S. R. (2015). An Invitation to the Sociology of Emotions. London: Routledge.
Wetherell, M (2012) Affect and Emotion: A New Social Science Understanding, London: Sage
See the library reading list for this module (Medway)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of theories and concepts related to the study of emotions within sociology and related
disciplines.
8.2 Demonstrate knowledge of a range of appropriate social science methods for studying emotions.
8.3 Apply selected social science methods for studying emotions, and be able to critically evaluate and reflect on the use of such methods.
8.4 Succinctly convey complex ideas and debates relating to the sociology of emotions.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
9.1 Critically evaluate and analyse different perspectives.
9.2 Systematically apply research methods and techniques to undertake an investigation.
9.3 Communicate complex ideas in a clear and coherent way.
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