Sociology of emotions

What is an emotion?

A label applied to a subjective internal experience (feeling) at an object, involving physiological and behavioral changes, plus interpretation of the situation.

How do emotions vary?

In valence (positive/negative), intensity (weak/strong), duration (long/short), and frequency (rare/common).

Give an example of an emotion triggered by a situation.

Seeing a bear and experiencing fear

What are emotions often associated with?

A source (danger of fear), a response (fleeing in fear), and facial expressions tied to specific emotions.

How do emotions differ from moods?

Emotions are brief and situation-specific; moods are long-lasting and their source fades over time (e.g., sadness vs depression).

What are primary emotions?

Physiologically grounded, inherited emotions from evolutionary processes, such as happiness, anger, fear, and sadness.

Name Ekman’s six universal emotions.

Anger, Fear, Disgust, Surprise, Happiness, Sadness.

Which primary emotions are linked to approach and avoidance?

Approach: happiness, anger; Avoidance: disgust, sadness, fear.

Define anger, fear, disgust, happiness, and sadness.

• Anger: feeling with a blocked goal or barrier

• Fear: feeling with impending threat

• Disgust: feeling with presence of noxious stimulus

• Happiness: positive feeling tied to physical/social stimulation

• Sadness: feeling with loss

When do secondary emotions emerge and why?

round 2.5-3 years with self-consciousness and self-referential behavior.

What secondary emotions stem from happiness?

Pride, Gratitude, Empathy.

What secondary emotion stems from sadness?

Depression

What secondary emotion stems from anger?

Shame

What secondary emotions stem from fear?

Guilt, Anxiety.

Kemper’s Power-Status Model
What are the two main determinants of emotional life in Kemper’s model?

Power (ability to influence others) and Status (unforced respect and esteem).

How do changes in power and status affect emotions?

Gains lead to positive emotions (satisfaction, confidence); losses lead to negative emotions (anxiety, fear).

Hochschild’s Cultural Theory

How does culture influence emotions?

Culture shapes emotional vocabulary, beliefs, norms, feeling rules (how emotions should feel), and display rules (how emotions are expressed).

Emotion Work/Management Techniques
What are the three techniques of emotion work?

Body work (alter physiology), Cognitive work (invoke thoughts), Expressive work (change outward expression).

What is emotional labor and its two types?

Managing emotions at work; surface acting (faking expressions) and deep acting (generating genuine feelings).

Which workers are most likely to perform emotional labor?

Those with frequent public contact and reliable emotional stamina. Ex flight attendants, social workers

What are consequences of emotional labor?

Organizational profit at emotional expense, alienation, and inauthenticity.

What are the components of social exchange?

Rewards, Costs, Investments.

When do we feel good or bad in social exchange?

Good if rewards > investments; bad if rewards < investments.

How does distributive justice affect emotions?

Under-reward leads to anger; over-reward leads to guilt or positive feelings if deserved.

How do high and low status actors differ emotionally?

High status are competent leaders with positive feelings; low status are followers expected to curb negative emotions.

What happens if low status actors challenge the status order?

They may feel anger but are expected to suppress it; expressing anger can escalate conflict.

How should low status actors increase status?

Avoid showing anger, demonstrate competence subtly, and use group-oriented approaches.