Sociology of Emotion

Shaping feelings in cyberspace: The case of Chinese seafarer-partners

by Lijun Tang

In Emotion Space & Society 2(2)

Research has shown that expressing feelings online is subject to feeling rules much like those that govern offline... more Research has shown that expressing feelings online is subject to feeling rules much like those that govern offline environments. ‘Expressing feelings’, however, is different from ‘feeling feelings’. Does emotional interaction online change how individuals feel and, if so, in what ways? This paper addresses the question by examining a group of Chinese seafarer-partners' activities in an online group. Drawing upon emotion management theory, this paper shows that seafarer-partners in the group helped each other to reframe negative experiences in positive ways in order to suppress unpleasant feelings. It also reveals a corollary process of online emotion-shaping, namely, boosting positive feelings, by drawing upon the concept of collective effervescence. Both processes served to make seafarer-partners feel positive about their relationships. This paper thus extends previous research findings by demonstrating that online support also serves to shape how individuals feel and does so through two processes.

The emotions least relevant to politics? Queering autonomous activism

by Eleanor Wilkinson

2009, Emotion, Space and Society, 2(1) 36-43.

Studies of emotion and activism have often attempted to uncover ‘the emotions most relevant to politics’ (Goodwin et... more Studies of emotion and activism have often attempted to uncover ‘the emotions most relevant to politics’ (Goodwin et al., 2001). This suggests that only certain feelings are productive for activism, while other emotions have less relevance for activist theory and practice. In this paper I ask if the notion of politically ‘relevant’ emotions helps perpetuate a distinction between what is considered political and what is not. This paper builds upon a case study in which I interviewed self-identified queer-activists about their experiences of autonomous activism. These interviews reveal how the everyday emotions surrounding the ‘personal’ politics of sexuality/intimacy are often seen as either less important, a distraction from, or entirely irrelevant to ‘real’ political issues. Ultimately, I want to challenge attempts to neatly separate our intimate lives from the public sphere of activism. I argue that it can never just be a matter of politics and emotion, but also the politics of emotion (Ahmed, 2004). Therefore we should not just assume that emotions matter for resistance - without first realizing the importance of resisting these hierarchies of emotion.

Pantti, M., and Wahl-Jorgensen, K. (2007). On the political possibilities of therapy news: Media responsibility and the limits of objectivity in disaster coverage. Studies in Communication (Estudos em Comunicação) 1(1)

by Karin Wahl-Jorgensen

Espacio de Palabras y rituales de solidaridad en Atocha

by Gérôme Truc

Published in Cristina Sánchez-Carretero (ed.), "El Archivo del Duelo. Análisis de la respuesta ciudadana ante los atentados del 11 de marzo en Madrid", Madrid, CSIC, 2011, p. 207-227.

Self-injury as Embodied Emotion Work: Managing Rationality, Emotions and Bodies

by Amy Chandler

Published in Sociology. Available online ahead of print.

Drawing on narrative research conducted in the UK about self-injury and embodiment, this article presents a novel... more Drawing on narrative research conducted in the UK about self-injury and embodiment, this article presents a novel sociological analysis of self-injury, utilizing the concept of emotion work. By focusing explicitly on embodied methods of ‘doing’ emotion work, the article highlights the under-recognized importance of examining the practical, corporeal practices that can be involved in emotion work. I reflect on the sociological and theoretical significance of examining self-injury as embodied emotion work – both as an analytic concept and as a narrative resource.

‘Going with the flow’: some central discourses in conceptualising and articulating the embodiment of emotional states.

by Deborah Lupton

In Nettleton, S. and Watson, J. (1998) (eds), The Body in Everyday Life. London: Routledge, pp. 82--99.

Pleasure, aggression and fear: the driving experiences of young Sydneysiders. .

by Deborah Lupton

In Mitchell, W. and Bunton, R. (2004) (eds), Young People, Risk and Leisure: Constructing Identities in Everyday Life. Houndsmills: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 27—42

Flucht vor der Gesellschaft? Ursachen, Folgen und Wechselwirkungen von Depression und Selbstmord

by Robert Friebe

Disgust and the Moral Economy of Disability '

by Karen Soldatic

Soldatic, Karen. 2007. Disgust and the moral economy of disability. Paper presented at The Australian Sociological Association/Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand, December 4–7, in Auckland, New Zealand.

The three D's of welfare reform: disability, disgust and deservingness

by Karen Soldatic

Religion, Neuroscience and Emotion: Some Implications of Consumerism and Entertainment Culture

by Rebecca Sachs Norris

This is a chapter in Religion and the Body: Modern Science and the Construction of Religious Meaning, David Cave and Rebecca Norris eds., Brill, Numen Book Series: Studies in the History of Religions, forthcoming 2012.

The Paradox of Healing Pain

by Rebecca Sachs Norris

In Religion, 39(1), 22-33, 2009.

Pain may be seen as a problem to be healed or as a means for healing. The secular biomedical view of pain is that it... more Pain may be seen as a problem to be healed or as a means for healing. The secular biomedical view of pain is that it is to be avoided and alleviated; its only meaning is as a symptom of underlying disease. In contrast, there have been throughout history other views of suffering—as redemptive or as transformative, for example. This paper considers the disparity between these perspectives, examining the role of the emotions and the underlying neurobiological processes though which pain and suffering come to be experienced as meaningful, then analyzes interview material exploring how religion and religious beliefs help people cope with suffering or with pain. The experience of pain is subjective, enculturated experience; the meaning that pain or suffering holds within a given cultural context affects the experience of pain and suffering. In a context where pain and suffering are understood to be valuable, those experiences can be used for spiritual transformation and integrated within a meaningful identity. In contrast, in a context where pain and suffering are not understood to have value, that attitude can create more suffering, even in conditions meant to alleviate suffering, such as in biomedical situations.

Emotionen nach Alfred Schütz

by Jan Strassheim

To appear in: Schnabel, Annette / Schützeichel, Rainer (eds.) 2012: Emotionen, Sozialstruktur und Moderne.

In German; supposed to come out in May.

I apply my particular reading of Schutz's theory to the problem of... more In German; supposed to come out in May.

I apply my particular reading of Schutz's theory to the problem of emotion, which Schutz himself only hinted at. How is it that emotions are rich and varied phenomena bound to unique embodied individuals - while at the same time emotions can be shared, understood, and even predicted (e.g. when we intentionally offend or amuse other people), and show a high degree of cultural and historical relativity?

Coping with religious and cultural homophobia: emotion and narratives of identity threat from British Muslim gay men

by Rusi Jaspal

Jaspal, R. (forthcoming). Coping with religious and cultural homophobia: emotion and narratives of identity threat from British Muslim gay men. In A.K.T. Yip & P. Nynas (eds.), Religion, Gender and Sexuality in Everyday Life. Aldershot: Ashgate.

**FOR A PDF OF FULL PAPER, E-MAIL ME**

In Britain, the social, political and legal positions of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual have... more In Britain, the social, political and legal positions of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual have improved, which has generally led to greater tolerance and acceptance at the social level. However, there is evidence that British Muslim gay men (BMGM) can continue to face discrimination from within their religious and cultural communities (Yip 2007). Representations of homosexuality within these communities are often negative and stigmatising, which frequently results in decreased willingness to ‘come out’ (Jaspal and Siraj 2011), as well as psychological ‘conflict’ (Bhugra 1997). Given that their religious and cultural groups prescriptively advocate heteronormativity and compulsory heterosexuality, BMGM may opt to remain ‘invisible’ (Murray 1997). Collectively, these factors can have profoundly negative social and psychological outcomes for BMGM.
There is now a growing tradition of research into the interface of religion and sexuality among BMGM (Jaspal and Cinnirella 2010, 2012, Yip 2004a, 2004b). Our research has examined the socio-psychological implications of being Muslim and gay for the self-concept, with a particular focus upon identity threat and coping. A principal contention within this body of work has been that religious and cultural homophobia seems to encourage the perception among BMGM that their religious and sexual identities are entirely incompatible. This may have negative social, psychological and emotional outcomes. The present chapter makes a contribution to existing research by elucidating how BMGM may cope with religious and cultural homophobia. The chapter draws upon identity process theory (Breakwell 1986), a socio-psychological theory of identity construction, threat and coping, in order to theorise the potential effects of homophobia for identity. Furthermore, the chapter addresses the role of emotion in meaning-making vis-à-vis religious and sexual identities and the phenomenological aspects of emotional experience when identity is threatened.

SMS scandals: sex, media and politics in Finland

by Tarja Laine

Apuntes para el estudio antropológico de la alabanza carismática católica (Artículo)

by María Angélica Ospina

Published in: Convergencia Vol. 11, No. 36, 2004; Available in: Scielo, Redalyc

Resumen

La intención de este artículo es plantearse interrogantes desde la antropología acerca del estudio... more Resumen

La intención de este artículo es plantearse interrogantes desde la antropología acerca del estudio de las corrientes carismáticas y pentecostales y, en particular, sobre el tema de la alabanza carismática católica. A través de algunas discusiones conceptuales y de ejemplos etnográficos sobre las narrativas de conversión y de malestar en la Renovación Carismática en Bogotá, Colombia, se pone de manifiesto la necesidad de complejizar y relativizar, en tre otros, el concepto de “emoción” en el análisis de la relación entre alabanza musical y conversión femenina.

Abstract

The objective of this article is to ask some anthropologic questions about the analysis of charismatisms and pentecostalisms, in particular, about the catholic charismatic praise. Through some conceptual discussions and ethnographic examples about conversion and illness narratives at the Charismatic Renovation in Bogota, Colombia, the author argues needs of to revise the concept of “emotion” in the analysis of relation between musical praise and feminine conversion.

Shame on us: Shame, national identity and the Finnish doping scandal

by Tarja Laine

A Practice Theory of Emotion for International Relations

by Janice Bially Mattern

Macht Liebe sehend ? Versuch einer Umdeutung der angeblichen 'Blindheiten' der Liebe

by Chiara Piazzesi

in T. M. Schmidt (Hg.), Macht Liebe sehend ?, Preisschriften des Forschungsinstituts für Philosophie Hannover, Göttingen, Wallstein Verlag 2010, p. 17-57

Winner of the Philosophical Prize 2009 of the Research Institute for Philosophy in Hannover [Forschungsinstitut für... more Winner of the Philosophical Prize 2009 of the Research Institute for Philosophy in Hannover [Forschungsinstitut für Philosophie Hannover]
http://www.fiph.de/veranstaltungen/preisfrage/Preisfrage-2009.php

On Driving a Car and Being a Family: An Autoethnography

by Chaim Noy

Book Chapter. In Vannini, P. (ed.) Material Culture and Technology in Everyday Life: Ethnographic Approaches. New York: Peter Lang. pp. 101-113. 2009.
*One of my (own) favorite articles

Based on observations of drivers and passengers who engage in everyday car-ride routines, this presentation... more Based on observations of drivers and passengers who engage in everyday car-ride routines, this presentation conceptualizes urban transportation as a highly complex social system, constitutive of everyday life. In this system, the common practice of car-driving is achieved via a set of ongoing cursive and non-cursive interactions. These interactions are materialized in and through the car, where unique material and technological features offer and shape a rich platform of interactional functions and affordances (Featherstone et al., 2005). These analytically include interactions inside the car, interactions with other vehicles, and interactions with the transportation infrastructure. Through situated, co-occurring and multimodal interactions various social roles are performatively sustained while driving. In this article, the examination of two pairs of roles will serve as case study: the interrelated performances of driver-passenger/father-daughter. While these roles are accomplished performatively in and through routine conversational exchanges, they are embodiments of different social systems: transportation (automobility) and family. While these roles sometimes contradict, at other times they interestingly reinforce each other; in both cases, these occurrences shape and are shaped by the activities of car-driving. The work is informed by ethnomethodological sensitivities and sensibilities, and uses ethnographic methods for researching language and communication within the context of automobility.