Psych 32700: Motivation and Emotion; section 001

Instructor: Stefan D. Schlussman, Ph.D.

e-mail: sschluss@hunter.cuny.edu
Class Meets Tuesday/Thursday 5:35 – 6:50 (see below)
Text: John Marshall Reeve Understanding Motivation and Emotion 6th Edition
ISBN 978-0-470-39233-2 (Recommended, not required)

NOTE; the course is based on the older (5th) edition so feel free to use it
instead of the 6th. A copy of the 5th edition is on reserve in the library

Course Overview. The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of how

behavior is initiated, maintained and terminated. We will discuss different
theories of motivation and emotion and review human and non-human research
on these topics. While a biology background is not required, this course will be a
biology-based discussion of motivation and emotion.

Class Meets: Tuesday/Thursday 5:35 – 6:50

o Tuesday classes will be held on zoom!
o Thursday classes will meet in HN536
o Class Link:
o https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84579075994?
pwd=SFEyUFRtOXU0Vjgxb3hKcVlvVDk2Zz09, Meeting ID: 845 7907
5994, Passcode: 564439

Office Hours (ZOOM): Tuesday, 2:30-3:30 and by appointment

o https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86557066352?
pwd=VEVldGFhbC9wTktjeFBYK3VPQWlYdz09 Meeting ID: 865 5706
6352l, Passcode: 267459
o Feel free to stop into office hours even to chat; I am going to be
there whether there are questions or not.

Attendance: Attendance is strongly recommended. Lecture material and

textbook readings will overlap but they are not identical. Students will be
responsible for material in the handouts, lectures and the textbook.

Academic Integrity: Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g.,

plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and
falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the
values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing the CUNY
Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty
according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.

From the Office of AccessABILITY: In compliance with the ADA and with
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Hunter College is committed to
ensuring educational access and accommodations for all its registered
students. Hunter College’s students with disabilities and medical conditions
are encouraged to register with the Office of AccessABILITY for assistance
and accommodation. For information and appointment contact the Office of
AccessABILITY located in Room E1214 or call (212) 772-4857 /or VRS (646)
755-3129.

Sexual Misconduct
In compliance with the CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct, Hunter College
reaffirms the prohibition of any sexual misconduct, which includes sexual
violence, sexual harassment, and gender-based harassment retaliation against
students, employees, or visitors, as well as certain intimate relationships.
Students who have experienced any form of sexual violence on or off campus
(including CUNY-sponsored trips and events) are entitled to the rights outlined in
the Bill of Rights for Hunter College. a. Sexual Violence: Students are strongly
encouraged to immediately report the incident by calling 911, contacting NYPD
Special Victims Division Hotline (646-610-7272) or their local police precinct, or
contacting the College's Public Safety Office (212-772-4444). b. All Other Forms
of Sexual Misconduct: Students are also encouraged to contact the College's
Title IX Campus Coordinator, Dean John Rose (jtrose@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-
650-3262) or Colleen Barry (colleen.barry@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4534)
and seek complimentary services through the Counseling and Wellness Services
Office, Hunter East 1123. CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/diversityandcompliance/repository/files/cuny-policy-
on-sexual-misconduct.pdf

Course Prerequisites:
Prerequisites:
1. Completion of PSYCH 248 (Psychological Statistics) with a minimum grade of C
2. Completion of PSYCH 249 or 250
3. PSYCH 22400

As per departmental guidelines: All students who do not meet all

prerequisites must withdrawal from the course. Those who do not do so will
be administratively withdrawn without exception.

Course Requirements:
 Exams:
o There will be three exams (100 points/exam) given over the
course of the semester and a comprehensive final. Each exam will
consist of multiple-choice questions on topics covered in the
lectures and the textbook. If you are late for the exam, extra time
will not be provided. Make up exams will not be given. There will
be an optional comprehensive Final Exam. If you take the Final,
your lowest exam score will be dropped.

 Papers:
 o In accordance with departmental guidelines, a written component to
this class is required. Each student will be responsible for a short
(700 word) paper on any topic related to motivation or emotion. The
instructor must approve your topic. The paper is worth 50
points. The paper will require at least 3 references (peer
reviewed). If the topic is not approved (or changed within 48
hours of deadline) 10 points will be deducted from your grade.
Late papers will have a 10-point penalty for every day (or part of
a day) they are late. Papers more than two (2) days late will not
be accepted! Three (3) words in a row taken directly from
source material will be considered plagiarism!

 Reflections:
o Following each “content module” (except the Introduction) you will
post a short (300 word) “reflection” about the just completed
module. Your reflection should include:
 What did you learn that surprised you?
 How relevant do you think the content is “in the real world”?
 What was your main “take home point”?
o There will be five (5) module reflections. You must respond to four
(4).
 Reflections will be due by the day the next module ends (i.e.,
reflections for Module 2 will be due by the end of Module 3).
 Each post will be worth 10 points (40 points total).

 Presentations: Each student may give a 10-15 minute presentation on

any topic (approved by the instructor) relevant to the course material.
o Only one presentation on a given topic will be allowed.
o Presentation topics will be approved in the order of submission
 You may work in groups of two (requires a 15-20 minute presentation)
or three-five (requires a 30 minute presentation).
 Be creative, be original, have fun!
o Presentations do not have to be in PowerPoint!
 Topics are due by 4/20.


Final Grade: The final grade will be based on 3 exams each worth 100 points, 1
written assignment worth 50 points, module reflections worth 40 points, and class
participation worth 10 points for a total of 400 possible points. The final exam is
optional. If you take the final exam your lowest exam score will be dropped
when calculating your final grade.

Points
Exams 300
 Paper 50
Reflections 40
Participation 10

Total 400

Grade Percen Grade Percent Points Grade Percent

t
A+ 97.5- A 92.5- 526.4- A- 90-92.4
100 97.4 499.5
B+ 87.5- B 82.5- 472.4- B- 80-82.4
89.9 87.4 445.5
C+ 77.5- C 70-77.4 418.4- D 60-69.9
79.9 378.0
F 59.9

Departmental Learning outcomes:

At the end of the semester, students will be able to:

1 Review the history of our attempts to understand the causes (why,

what and when) of behavior.
2 Discuss and critically assess the utility and limitations of such
concepts as instinct, drive and incentive.
3 Be familiar with the methods used for the study of motivational
mechanisms
4 Be able to identify some of the biological mechanisms known to
mediate such processes as hunger and thirst, emotion, aggression,
reward and addiction, sleep and biological rhythms.
5 Demonstrate the ability to critically assess original research
communications
6 Demonstrate proficiency in both oral and written scientific
presentations

Additionally, by the end of the semester students will be expected to:

1. Discuss how the view of motivation has changed over the years.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of how our behavior is energized and
directed toward a specific goal.
3. Analyze the different “mini-theories” of motivation and how these different
components regulate the initiation, persistence, direction and termination
of goal-oriented behavior.
4. Explain emotions as motivational forces.
5. Apply these theories to change and direct behaviors of others.
The following schedule is subject to change:

Classes shaded in purple will be asynchronous

Module Date Topic Notes Assignment
(class Due
#)
1. Week T 2/1 Introduction to
Introduction 1 (1) motivation /
Historical and
current perspectives
on motivation.
Th 2/3 The motivated and
(2) emotional brain.
Week T 2/8 NO CLASS; Friday
2 Schedule
2. Needs as Th Physiological needs
Motivators 2/10
(3)
Week T 2/15 Intrinsic motivation.
3 (4)
Th Extrinsic motivation.
2/17(5)
EXAM Week T 2/22 Exam Review
4 (6)
Th Exam 1 Modules
2/24 1 and 2
(7)
3. Cognition Week T 3/1 Psychological
as 5 (8) needs.
Motivators Th 3/3 Social needs.
(9)
Week T 3/8 Personal Control
6 (10) Beliefs
Th The self and its
3/10 striving.
(11)
4. Emotions Week T 3/15 Nature of emotion.
as 7 (12)
Motivators Th Nature of emotion.
3/17
(13)
Week T 3/22 Aspects of Emotion.
8 (14)
Th Exam Review
3/24
 (15)
5. Week T 3/29 Unconscious
Motivational 9 (16) Motivation.
aspects of Th Exam Modules
applied 3/31 3-4
psychology
Week T 4/5 Personality Paper
10 (17) Characteristics. Topics due
Th 4/7 Positive Psychology
(18)

Week T 4/12 Positive Psychology

11 (19) II
Th TBD Presentation
4/14 topic due
(20)
Spring Break T 4/19 NO CLASS
(21)
TH NO CLASS
4/21
6. Applied Week T 4/26 Applied Motivation
Motivational 12 (22)
Engineering Th Applied Motivation
4/28
(23)
7. Week T 5/3 Presentations Papers Due
Presentation 13 (24)
s Th 5/5 Presentations
(25)
Week T 5/10 Presentations
14 (26)
Th EXAM REVIW
5/12
(27)
Week T 5/17 Exam 3 Modules
15 (29) 5-7
FINAL 5/24 7:30-9:30
EXAM