UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

(All rights reserved)

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
SEMESTER 2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR

PROVISIONAL COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Code and Title: PSYC 222: Motivation and Emotion

Credits: 3 Credit hours (2hr Lecture + 1hr Tutorial per week)

Lecture Periods and Venue

Legon Campus Mondays 7:30 – 9:20 NNB3

Wednesdays 9:30 – 11:20 NNB3

Fridays 7:30 - 9:20 CC
Accra City Campus Tuesdays …..

Course Instructors
Collins B. Agyemang, PhD Joana Larry-Afutu, PhD
Office Location: Department of Psychology Main Building Department of Psychology Main Building
Office Hours: Thursdays 14:30 -16:30 Thursdays 10:00 – 12:00
Email: cbagyemang@ug.edu.gh jolarryafutu@ug.edu.gh

Mabel Oti-Boadi, PhD

Office Location: Psychology Department, Francis Kofi Drah Building
Office Hours: Wednesdays 14:30 -16:30
Email: moti-boadi@ug.edu.gh

Course Overview
What makes us do what we do? How do you convey your feelings to a loved one? This course is
designed to introduce students to the common factors that compel people to undertake or not undertake
certain activities in their daily lives. It will also explain how we express and experience emotions. It is
expected that by the end of the course students would be able to apply these psychological principles in
their lives.

Course Objective
• Help students understand the concepts of emotion and motivation
• Facilitate students’ acquisition of practical skills necessary for effective use of emotions and
motivation in every sphere of life
• Acquaint students with current research on emotion and motivation especially those from
African settings and those applicable to life in general.

Learning Outcomes
After completing their course, students should be able to:

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 1. Define and explain the different type of emotion
2. Differentiate between current theories of emotion as well as types of emotion
3. Explain the influence of culture and gender in expressing and experiencing emotion
4. Explain the role of emotions in psychological wellbeing.
5. Identify and explain the features of motivation
6. Identify and differentiate between the types of motivation

Plagiarism policy
Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and shall be treated as a serious offence. Appropriate sanctions,
as stipulated in the Plagiarism Policy, will be applied when students are found to have violated the
Plagiarism policy. The policy is available at http://www.ug.edu.gh/aqau/policies-guidelines. ALL
students are expected to familiarize themselves with the contents of the Policy.

Assessment and Grading

Interim Assessment 20%
Class Participation/Attendance/Presentations & Pop Quizzes 10%
Final Exam 70%

Grading Scale:
Refer to Undergraduate Handbook.

Required Reading
Dzokoto, V. A., & Okazaki, S. (2006). Happiness in the eye and the heart: Somatic referencing in West
African emotion lexicon. Journal of Black Psychology, 32, 117–140.
Dzokoto, V., Senft, N., Washington-Nortey, M., & Kpobi, L. (2016). Their hands have lost their bones:
Exploring cultural scripts in two West African affect lexica. J Psycholinguist Res, 1-25.
Dzokoto, V. A. A., Osei-Tutu, A., Kyei, J., Twum-Asante, M., Attah, D., & Ahorsu, D. (2018).
Emotion norms, display rules, and regulation in the Akan society of Ghana: An exploration
using proverbs. Frontiers in Psychology, 9:1916. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01916
Fredrickson, B. L. & Jonier, T (2002). Positive emotions trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-
being. Psychological Science, 13, 172-175.
Izard, C. E. (2007). Basic emotions, natural kinds, emotion schemas, and a new paradigm.
Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2, 260-280.
Recommended Text
Dzokoto, V. A., Opare-Henaku, A. & Kpobi, L. A. (2013). Somatic referencing and psychologisation
in emotion narratives: A USA - Ghana comparison. Journal of Psychology in Developing
Societies, 25, 311 - 331.
Gazzaniga, M. S., Heatherton, T. F. & Halpern, D. F. (2010). Psychological science (3rd Ed.). New
York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Kim- Prieto, C. & Eid, M. (2004). Norms for experiencing emotions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of
Happiness Studies, 5, 241 - 268.
Lahey, B.B. (2004). Psychology: An introduction (8th Ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.
Myers, D. G. (2013). Introduction to psychology (10th Ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.
Myers, D. G (2005). Exploring psychology (6th Ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.

READ MORE ……………READ MORE…………….READ MORE…….!!!!

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Additional Information
a. Class Participation: This course will be interactive in nature. Your participation in class will be
graded. Please make time to read assigned materials for each class, and be prepared to comment in
class.
b. Classroom Manners: All are expected to contribute to creating and maintaining a classroom
environment in which everyone feels respected and valued. Inappropriate classroom behaviors will
not be entertained. We will discuss the details of good classroom behavior at the beginning of the
course; all are expected to abide by these.
c. Interim Assessment and Final Exam: The format for assessment will be discussed in class.
d. Students with Special Needs: Please contact the Office of Disability Support Services and or the
Counseling and Career Center if you have the need and require an academic adjustment or an
accommodation.
e. Public Holidays. March 6th; April 13th, May 1st are public holidays.

Disclaimer: This syllabus is for informational purposes. The instructors reserve the right to change the
schedule during the semester. All such changes will be communicated in class.

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 Course Delivery Schedule
Week Date Topic Required Readings Remarks/Projects
1 Feb.3-7 Course Review No reading assigned. Assignment
What motivated you to come
to the university? Why did you
apply to University of Ghana?
Did you apply for Psychology?
Or you were given?
-----------------------------------
Using YouTube, learn how to
design PowerPoints slides.

2 Feb.10-14 The Concept of Emotion Refer to any introductory psychology text.

• Defining emotion
• Detecting emotions
• Effects of facial expressions

Feb.11-21 Theories of Emotion Read any introductory psychology text

3 • James-Lange theory
• Cannon-Bard theory
• Two-factor theory
4 Feb24 – Dimensions of Emotion
Feb 28 • Types of emotion
• Specific emotions
which discusses theories of emotion.
Izard (2007). Basic emotions, natural
kinds, emotion schemas, and a new
paradigm.

5 Mar 2-6 Culture and Emotional Expression
• Ghanaian emotion
• Culture, gender and emotions
Dzokoto and Okazaki (2006). Happiness Presentations
in the eye and the heart…
Dzokoto, et al. (2016). Their hands have
lost their bones…

Dzokoto et al. (2018). Emotion norms,

display rules, and regulation…
6 Mar. 9- 13 Ups and Downs of Emotion Fredrickson and Jonier, T (2002). Presentations
• Disordered emotions Positive emotions trigger upward spirals
• Emotion and you toward emotional well-being.
7 Mar. 16-20 Emotion and You Refer to any introductory psychology text. Presentations
• Social importance of emotions
• Managing your emotions
• Emotions and your well-being
8 Mar.23-27 Concept of Motivation Refer to any introductory psychology text. Presentations
• What is motivation?
• Types of motives or drives
• Theories of motivation
9 Mar 30- Biological Motives Refer to any introductory psychology text.
Apr 3 • Hunger
• Eating disorders
10 Apri.6-10 Sexual Motivation Refer to any introductory psychology text.
• Sexual arousal
• Sexual problems
• Cultural, gender & sexual
motivation
11 Apri.13- Social Motives Refer to any introductory psychology text.
17* • The need to socialize
• Affiliation needs
• Intimacy needs
• Esteem needs
12 Apri.20- Motivation and You Refer to any introductory psychology text.
24* • Motivation at work
• Student motivation
Apri.27- General Course Review No reading assigned.
13 May 1 *

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