Session information
Sessions take place Tuesdays, 10.15-11.45, Biozentrum, Maurice E. Müller Saal U1.111.
Please note that the Exam takes place on 03.06.2026, from 08.00 to 10.00, at the DSBG Neubau, Sporthalle 1. The Repeat Exam is scheduled for 20.07.2026, from 10.00 to 12.00, at the Vesalianum, Grosser Hörsaal (EO.16).
| # | Date | Topic | Slides | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.02.2026 | Emotion: What is an emotion? | Mata | |
| 2 | 03.03.2026 | Emotion: What is an emotion? (continued) | Mata | |
| 3 | 10.03.2026 | Emotion: Neural bases | Tisdall | |
| 4 | 17.03.2026 | Emotion: Regulation | Mata | |
| 5 | 24.03.2026 | Emotion: Well-being | Mata | |
| 6 | 31.03.2026 | Motivation: What is motivation? | Mata | |
| 7 | 07.04.2026 | Motivation: Extrinsic vs intrinsic motivation | Mata | |
| 8 | 14.04.2026 | Motivation: Neural bases | Tisdall | |
| 9 | 28.04.2026 | Motivation: Cooperation | Theisen | |
| 10 | 05.05.2026 | Motivation: Morality | Theisen | |
| 11 | 12.05.2026 | Applications | Mata | |
| 12 | 19.05.2026 | Wrap-up and Q&A | Mata | |
| 13 | 03.06.2026 | Exam (DSBG Neubau) | ||
| 14 | 20.07.2026 | Repeat Exam (Vesalianum) |
Note. Slides will be made available shortly before each session.
What is this course about?
This course aims to give a broad introduction to central topics in psychology, with a focus on emotion and motivation.
What can you expect to learn?
By completing the course you can expect to…
- learn about central theories and models concerning the psychology of emotion and motivation
- become familiarized with common methods used in the psychology of emotion and motivation
- learn about examples of applications of the psychology of emotion and motivation to real-world contexts
How should you use this website?
This website is designed to help course participants get an overview of the course, including a listing of recommended readings (see below) and the course slides (see table above). A FAQ forum is available on ADAM.
Recommended Readings
Session 1
Gross, J.J, & Barrett, L.F. (2011). Emotion generation and emotion regulation: One or two depends on your point of view. Emotion Review, 3, 8–16. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1754073910380974
Session 2
De Waal, F. B. M., & Andrews, K. (2022). The question of animal emotions. Science, 375(6587), 1351–1352. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo2378
Session 3
Lindquist, K. A., Wager, T. D., Kober, H., Bliss-Moreau, E., & Barrett, L. F. (2012). The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 35(3), 121–143. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X11000446
Session 4
Gross, J. J. (2015). Emotion regulation: Current status and future prospects. Psychological Inquiry, 26(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2014.940781
Session 5
Tov, W., Wirtz, D., Kushlev, K., Biswas-Diener, R., Diener, E. (2022). Well-being science for teaching and the general public. Perspectives in Psychological Science, 17(5), 1452-1471. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17456916211046946
Session 6
Heckhausen, H. (2008). Historical trends in motivation research. In J. Heckhausen & H. Heckhausen (Eds.), Motivation and Action (2nd ed., pp. 10–41). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511499821.003
Session 7
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68-78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
Session 8
Braver, T. S., Krug, M. K., Chiew, K. S., Kool, W., Westbrook, J. A., Clement, N. J., et al. (2014). Mechanisms of motivation-cognition interaction: Challenges and opportunities. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 14(2), 443–472. http://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-014-0300-0
Session 9
Tomasello, M., & Vaish, A. (2013). Origins of human cooperation and morality. Annual Review of Psychology, 64(1), 231–255. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143812
Session 10
TBD
Session 11
Duckworth, A. L., Milkman, K. L., & Laibson, D. (2018). Beyond willpower: Strategies for reducing failures of self-control. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 19(3), 102–129. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100618821893