An Introduction to Emotions

This introductory course covers key concepts relating to emotions (what are emotions, different types of emotions, the physiological side of emotions, emotions and the threat response, emotions and goals, the social function of emotions, emotions and culture, and emotional intelligence and agility. You will also explore the different ways we express our emotions (intentionally and unintentionally) and the factors that affect whether expression is beneficial or problematic. You’ll also consider some of the challenges in interpreting other peoples’ emotional expressions. Finally, you will explore how we regulate our own emotions and how we can help others to regulate their emotions. You’ll review a number of emotion regulation strategies and discover when they are more or less helpful.

A short overview of the course

In this short video, Dr Samantha Hardy introduces the course and explains how it will enhance your practice.

Course Content

Each module includes around 2 hours of short video lessons and a workbook
to apply your learning to your own experiences and context.

What are emotions and how do they work?

Learn about how emotions are created, how they work, and their function in individual and social contexts. Explore cultural aspects of emotions. Discover how to develop emotional intelligence and agility.

Emotional expression

Discover why and how we express emotions. Identify the factors that determine whether an emotional expression is beneficial. Consider how we express emotions in various ways. Learn about the challenges in interpreting others’ emotional expressions.

Emotion regulation

Learn about how we can regulate our emotions, individually or with the support of others. Discover a range of strategies for emotional regulation and learn how and when each is most useful.

About your trainer

Dr Samantha Hardy is the Director and Lead Trainer of the Conflict Management Academy. She is an experienced mediator and conflict coach and the founder of the REAL Conflict Coaching System™. She provides conflict support to managers and leaders across the world. She also provides professional development training, supervision and mentorship to mediators and coaches who work with clients in conflict.

Sam has been accredited as a mediator under the Australian National Mediation Accreditation System and is a Certified Transformative Mediator by the US Institute of Conflict Transformation. She is a Certified Narrative Coach.

In 2021 Sam was awarded the Australian Resolution Institute Award for Service to Dispute Resolution for her leadership and innovation in the field. She was also awarded 2022 Conflict Coach of the Year at the Australian Dispute Resolution Awards.

Sam holds a PhD in Law and Conflict Resolution, as well as other postgraduate qualifications in adult education.

Sam is a well known trainer and university educator, holding adjunct appointments at a number of universities in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA.

Sam has also published widely in conflict resolution, including her books Dispute Resolution in Australia, Mediation for Lawyers and Conflict Coaching Fundamentals: Working with Conflict Stories.

Feedback from students

Dr Judith Rafferty

Senior Lecturer, JCU Masters of Conflict Management and Resolution

Really well done on explaining such a complicated topic in an accessible and practical way.

Alessandra Pepe

Business and Leadership Coach

I have never seen such a complete work on the nature of emotions! I am so stunned with the huge amount of material that Samantha Hardy put together, including the latest research of neuroscience, psychology, conflict management, communication. The course is composed mainly of her videos but it is also rich in other resources, videos, Ted Talks, bibliography, not to mention the precious workbooks provided. Her English is very clear but I found useful also the subtitles! As a coach this enhances my capability in helping my coaching clients in their interpersonal skills, as a human being I am convinced that if people knew and recognized their own and other’s emotions the world would be a better place! Unfortunately very seldom this is taught at school.

Dr Anthony Dilley

Paediatric Surgeon and Health Conflict Management Specialist

The content and delivery are excellent!

Nicole Carter

Social Worker in Private Practice

This training is the best I have seen on emotions. It is incredibly thorough and packed with helpful and insightful information. You explain the role of emotions in conflict in easy to understand, practical language.

Take your conflict management skills to the next level working with emotions!

Develop the capacity to support people to better work with their emotions for constructive conflict management.