Psychology of Motivation and Emotions

Code:

LPSI107

Acronym:

PME

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	First degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LPSIC	230	Official Curricular Structure	1	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Learning outcomes and competences

By the end of this curricular unit (CU), the students should be able to:

1. Identify the main concepts and constructs associated to the field of motivation and emotions;
2. Identify the main motivation and emotion theories and how they have evolved throughout time;
3. Integrate and reflect upon the importance of motivation and emotion in directing behavior and in human action dynamics;
4. Analyze knowledge in a critical way, organizing and structuring it according to levels of importance;
5. Use theoretical frameworks and recent empirical research to analyze problems in several life-contexts – school, work, family, leisure, sport –, and to evaluate intervention proposals in the motivational domain;
6. Show oral and written scientific communication skills.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction to the study of motivation and emotion: Definitions, constructs, historical overview and relevance.


2. Theoretical frameworks and practical applications

2.1 Motivation as impulse: Drive reduction theories

2.2. Motivation as a trait: Expectancy x Value theories

2.3. Motivation as cognition: Cognitive and Sociocognitive theories of motivation (e.g. Attributional theory; Socio-cognitive theory; Mindset theory; Cognitive evaluation theory)

2.4. Motivation as emotion: Characteristics, functions and effects of emotions; Sociocognitive approaches to emotion; Studying emotions in natural settings; Motivation and emotion regulation; Emotion and theories of self

3. Applications of the theoretical frameworks to real life situations and contexts.

Mandatory literature

Luísa Faria; Desenvolvimento diferencial das concepções pessoais de inteligência durante a adolescência. ISBN: 972-31-0812-7
Luísa Faria; Motivação para a competência. ISBN: 978-989-8148-17-9
Anne Marie Fontaine; Motivação em contexto escolar. ISBN: 972-674-459-8
Paula M. Niedenthal; Psychology of emotion. ISBN: 1-84169-402-9
Elliot, A.; Dweck, C. & Yeager, D.; Handbook of competence and motivation
Ryan, R & Deci, E.; Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness., 2017

Complementary Bibliography

Reeve, J.; Understanding motivation and emotion. , 2009

Comments from the literature

In each class a specific bibliography is recommended according to the subject

Teaching methods and learning activities

Explanatory methods will allow for the identification of major motivational and emotion related constructs. This initial approach is crucial for the effectiveness of more participatory methods, allocated to the TP classes. In these classes, the major constructs and theoretical approaches will be in-depth analyzed, the linkages among them and their evolution across time will be worked on, promoting a critical approach by the students. The proposed group works imply the application of theoretical frameworks into daily problems in different contexts. This application will allow for critical reasoning about human action motivations and emotions. Finally, the activities developed by the students along the semester entail scientific literature review, analyses and synthesis along with oral and written skills.

 

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	30,00
Exame	70,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	108,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance at theory classes is not included in the assessment, but the student will have to attend 75% of the theoretical-practical classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

(A) Assessment through the completion of an exam. The final classification corresponds to that one obtained in the exam, with a weighting of 70% in the final mark (minimum mark of 8/20).
(B) Practical work with a weighting of 30% (Minimum mark of the work = 8/20).
(All scores on a scale of 0 to 20 points)

To be successful the final mark must be equal or higher than 9.5.

The practical work cannot be replaced by the theoretical exam

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students covered by special arrangements are advised to speak to the teacher at the beginning of the semester.

The evaluation of students covered by special regimes complies with the provisions of the FPCEUP rules.

Classification improvement

The improvement of the classification can happen only once, until the examination period of the academic year following the one in which the exam was passed and in which the CU has a foreseen exam.

The practical work cannot be improved.