Opportunities To Ignite Your Mind
-
Do you believe in the chemistry of love at first sight?
-
Do you wonder how mourners at a funeral can raise a glass and cheerfully talk about a departed parent or partner?
-
Do you question how a person who has repeatedly committed domestic violence can control his emotions enough to smile and act politely after rejection in a job interview?
-
Do you remember the kids in school who were made fun of for wearing off-brand clothes and shoes and wonder why?
We usually think about feelings as deeply personal and private experiences; however, this course is an invitation to think critically about social aspects of emotions and the role of society in teaching, shaping, regulating, controlling, and distributing emotions in the population. Together we will unpack how emotions produce effects on different aspects of social life. This course, instead of relying on the biological and the psychological accounts of emotions that dominate this field of study, will emphasize how society and social life influence feelings. Love, shame, sadness and happiness, and social influences on them, are some of the key questions that will be explored.
.jpeg)
I’ve spent most of my life observing the world through a sociological lens. Over the years, that lens has become an inseparable part of me. I catch myself analyzing everything—from the design of children’s games to films, news articles, and even dinner‑table conversations. Sometimes it feels like a crystal ball helping me anticipate political shifts; other times it’s a quiet guide that helps me sense the future of a relationship or the dynamics of a community.
During my bachelor’s in Iran I contributed to a talk show about women’s issues. Eventually I followed sociology all the way through a master’s and a PhD in Canada-powered mostly by my loyal coffee mug!
I started teaching in my final PhD year, and the sociology of emotion quickly became my favorite subject because it’s so woven into everyday life. Reading, writing, and teaching sociology still light me up.
Now, I’m excited to share sociological tools with a wider, more diverse audience. I believe sociology helps us understand justice, social action, and wonderfully complicated world."