Cognition, Emotion, and Decision Making, 6 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master Programme in Cognitive Science

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Cognitive Science equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
  or
  Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
  and
  30 ECTS credits in one of the following subject areas
  - Psychology
  - Linguistics
  - Philosophy
  - Neuroscience
  - Anthropology
  or
  Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology of Neuroscience equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
  30 ECTS credits passed in Computer Science
   
• English and Swedish corresponding to the level of English and Swedish in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6 and Svenska 3)

Intended learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should at an advanced level be able to:

• account for key research findings in cognition and emotion
• account for the interplay between emotional and cognitive systems in the brain
• explain the relationship between different environmental factors, emotions and cognition
• critically evaluate central cognitive psychological theories and models of emotion
• apply theories about the interplay between emotional and cognitive systems on people's behavior in different situations, especially those involving assessments, decisions and preferences
• account for key research findings within decision theory
• explain how results and the issues discussed in decision theory are linked to basic beliefs about emotion and cognition

Course content

The course covers the interaction between cognition, emotion and decision-making. This includes perspectives and results from different fields and disciplines, where different methods, both empirical and more theoretical, have been used.

Topics and issues listed in the course are:

• cognitive science theories of emotion
• the neuropsychological basis for the interplay between cognition and emotion, including neuroanatomical and neurochemical aspects
• evolutionary psychological theories about emotion and cognition
• relationship between physical environment and emotion
• emotional design
• different theories about how people make decisions

Teaching and working methods

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars.Some laboratory elements. In addition, the student should conduct self-study.

Examination

The examination consists of oral assignments, assignments and a written exam. Active participation in seminars. Detailed information can be found in the study guide.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it. If the coordinator has instead recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus.

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department