Portrait photography courses: Why? not just how. Any recommendations?

I'm not really a portrait photographer but would love to develop in this genre.

Most, if not all, the portrait courses I've watched focus on 'how' to achieve a particular look: How to create soft vs hard shadows, how to use an umbrella, softbox, reflector and so on.
Can you recommend any courses which start with the aesthetics of why this (female for example) subject might be presented super soft, while another might have a different style, before progressing to developing that style?

I like Greg Knight's teaching style and am attracted to dramatic portraits, but don't want that to be my only 'go to' style.