MORALITY AND EMOTIONS - 2022/3

Module Overview

This module will examine critical perspectives in moral psychology, discussing critical debates about moral concepts, including how different moral concepts should be defined and assessed. It will cover theoretical and empirical findings that explore implications of moral concepts.

Module provider

Psychology

Module Leader

RUSSELL Sophie (Psychology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

1. 
   Introduction to moral psychology
   


2. 
   Universality versus cultural relativity
   


3. 
   Rational versus Intuition explanations
   


4. 
   Moral judgement
   


5. 
   Moral convictions
   


6. 
   Morally condemning emotions
   


7. 
   Self-conscious emotions
   


8. 
   Other praising emotions
   


9. 
   Other suffering emotions
   


10. 
    Moral character and virtues
    


11. 
    Putting morality into action
    

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

1.         To build an understanding of the controversies surrounding moral psychology, specifically surrounding definitions and measurement of concepts.  This learning outcome will be assessed by both summative assessments. (C,K)

2.         To demonstrate an understanding of the antecedents and consequences of moral concepts. This learning outcome will be assessed by both summative assessments. (C,K)

3.         To develop a research question that builds on prior theory and methods in moral psychology. This outcome will be assessed by both summative assessments. (C,K,T)

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

1. 
   One literature review (60%) (1,500 words)
   


2. 
   One poster (40%) 
   

1. 
   Written feedback on literature review
   


2. 
   Verbal feedback in lectures
   

Module aims

• The module will outline theories that attempt to define what moral concepts are, such as moral judgements, moral emotions, moral convictions, and moral behaviours.
• The module will examine whether various cognitions and mental states are necessary for moral judgment. Previously, it was commonly emphasized that rational processes guide moral judgments; however, recent models in moral psychology have emphasized the impact of gut intuitions, affect, and emotions in guiding moral judgments and behaviours.
• It will attempt to uncover some of the unique relationships between moral judgement and various emotions, indicating what makes an emotion a ¿moral emotion'. We will focus on defining four families of moral emotions 1) other-condemning emotions, e.g., anger and disgust; 2) self-conscious emotions (e.g., guilt and shame; 3) other-praising emotions, e.g., elevation and awe), and 4) other-suffering emotions (e.g. empathy and compassion). Therefore, in this module we will not only be focusing on the negative side of morality but also positive aspects of morality, such as positive moral emotions.
• The relationship between moral concepts and various behaviours/implications will be explored, including the strength of the relationships. The implications of having moral conviction will be examined, specifically how moral conviction impacts our behaviors (e.g., political engagement, collective action, social distancing).
• The module will explore how we decide what is right and wrong. It will investigate whether moral principles are universal or culturally relative.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• To build an understanding of the controversies surrounding moral psychology, specifically surrounding definitions and measurement of concepts. 


• To demonstrate an understanding of the antecedents and consequences of moral concepts.


• To develop a research question that builds on prior theory and methods in moral psychology.

• 
  Lectures of 2hrs duration 
  


• 
  Group discussion and exercises in lectures
  


• 
  Surrey Learn discussion board and other materials
  


• 
  Independent learning
  


• 
  Guided learning
  

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PSYM110

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2022/3 academic year.