Fear and Survival - PSY00110M
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
Fear might seem to be the most common and straightforward of emotional experiences, but questions remain regarding its nature. What do we find frightening and why? Is fear a universal experience? How do we think, feel, and behave when we are afraid? How do our bodies and brains respond to frightening environments? How do we share our fears with others? And why and how do we use fear to control and even entertain each other? This module will explore each of these questions through the lens of empirical psychological research.
Module learning outcomes
- Critically evaluate contemporary models of emotion.
- Describe physiological correlates of fear and related states and critically examine theories regarding the nature of these relationships.
- Discuss the ways in which cognitive functioning may change during threatening experiences and the theoretical significance of those changes.
- Evaluate the evidence for, and potential benefits of, emotional contagion.
- Critically evaluate theories and evidence regarding the impact of fear in popular forms of entertainment (e.g. film, gaming, etc.).
Module content
- Models of emotion.
- Psychophysiology and fear-related phenomena
- Fear related behaviour
- The influence of fear on cognition
- Emotional contagion
- Fear as entertainment
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
The marks on all assessed work will be provided on e-vision.
Indicative reading
None specified.