Our Research

Our long-term European heritage remains one of our strongest cultural influences, shaping the world we live in today.

Our research aim is to produce a new, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive understanding of the long history of individual and communal emotions in Europe (1100 -1800); and apply this knowledge to improve the social, cultural and emotional welfare of modern Australians.

Research Programs

Research at the Centre for History of Emotions takes place within four programs: Meanings, Change, Performance and Shaping the Modern .

Research Opportunities

Search for opportunities to engage with our cutting-edge humanities research.

Meet our Researchers

We are Australian and international experts in the study of pre-modern emotions, working in a variety of Humanities disciplines.

Hear from our Chief Investigators:

“One of the things I love most about our Centre is the chance to offer post-doctoral fellowships to humanities researchers”

Stephanie Trigg (University of Melbourne)
“If we change our thinking we can change the way we feel... The ancient Stoics knew that long before modern 'cognitive behaviour therapy”

Yasmin Haskell (University of Western Australia)
“Studying the history of emotions helps us to understand what people felt was important to them, why they behaved as they did”

David Lemmings (University of Adelaide)
“Emotions in all their complexity and colours drive the imagination and underlie all forms created through the imagination.”

Bob White (University of Western Australia)
“It’s exciting to be involved in community heritage projects that show how early modern emotions still underpin the lives we lead today”

Susan Broomhall (University of Western Australia)
“Europe between 1100 and 1800 was a cornucopia of literature, art and music of extraordinary intellectual and emotional power. CHE explores this heritage.”

Peter Holbrook (University of Queensland)