Bringing Emotions Into Social Exchange Theory

Lawler, Edward J.; Thye, Shane R.

doi:10.1146/annurev.soc.25.1.217

Cited by 491 publications

(346 citation statements)

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“…In contemporary exchange theorizing, individual actors are assumed to be not only self-interested but also unemotional or emotionally vacuous (Lawler and Thye 1999). This metatheoretical theme has reached its zenith in theory and research on exchange networks, from that of Emerson and his colleagues (Cook and Emerson 1978;Cook et al 1983), to that of Markovsky, Willer, and their colleagues (Markovsky et al 1988(Markovsky et al , 1993 2 Among economic theories or perspectives, social exchange theory is closest to transactions-cost economics (Williamson 1981(Williamson , 1985North 1990).…”

Section: Under Certain Conditions Thereby Producing Stronger or Weakmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specific emotions are attached to or associated by the actors with particular objects. A goal here is to theorize the link of everyday emotions that are global and transitory to the more enduring affective sentiments about social objects such as relationships, groups, and net- (Molm 1994;Lawler and Thye 1999). The affect theory assumes that actors are motivated to interpret such emotions and theorizes that jointness of the exchange activity points them in the direction of social units.…”

Section: Under Certain Conditions Thereby Producing Stronger or Weakmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Assumption 1 The five assumptions are informed by recent theory and research on commitment in exchange (Lawler and Yoon 1993, 1998Lawler and Thye 1999;Lawler et al 2000) and serve as the backdrop for propositions of the affect theory of social exchange. Each assumption is discussed below.…”

Section: Theoretical Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fundamental implication of the assumptions, as a whole, is that positive emotions produced by exchange should increase solidarity effects on relations and groups, and negative emotions should decrease solidarity effects (Cook and Emerson 1984;Kollock 1994;Lawler and Yoon 1996;Lawler and Thye 1999;Lawler et al 2000). Solidarity is defined here as the strength and durability of person-to-group and person-to-person relations (Parsons 1951;Hechter 1987).…”

Section: Theoretical Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…My affect theory of social exchange focuses exclusively on the emotional/ affective process in order to broaden and deepen theorizing of the emotional effects of exchange. Lawler and Thye (1999) recently showed the variety of roles emotions can play in social exchange. Emotions are an integral part of the normative context of exchange and often managed carefully by actors (Hochschild (1979(Hochschild ( , 1983.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Affect Theory of Social Exchange

Lawler

2001

American Journal of Sociology

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This article develops a theory that explains how and when emotions, produced by social exchange, generate stronger or weaker ties to relations, groups, or networks. It is argued that social exchange produces positive or negative global feelings, which are internally rewarding or punishing. The theory indicates that social units (relations, groups, networks) are perceived as a source of these feelings, contingent on the degree of jointness in the exchange task. The jointness of the task is greatest if (1) actors find it difficult to distinguish their individual effects on or contributions to solving the exchange task (nonseparability) and (2) actors perceive a shared responsibility for success or failure at the exchange task. The theory explicates the effects of different exchange structures on these conditions and, in turn, on cohesion and solidarity. Implications are developed for network-to-group transformations. This article develops a theory that explains how and when emotions, produced by social exchange, generate stronger or weaker ties to relations, groups, or networks. It is argued that social exchange produces positive or negative global feelings, which are internally rewarding or punishing. The theory indicates that social units (relations, groups, networks) are perceived as a source of these feelings, contingent on the degree of jointness in the exchange task. The jointness of the task is greatest if (1) actors find it difficult to distinguish their individual effects on or contributions to solving the exchange task (nonseparability) and (2) actors perceive a shared responsibility for success or failure at the exchange task. The theory explicates the effects of different exchange structures on these conditions and, in turn, on cohesion and solidarity. Implications are developed for network-to-group transformations.This article proposes an affect theory of social exchange. The purpose is to incorporate emotions as an explicit, central feature of social exchange processes. The article accomplishes this by (1) conceptualizing individual actors as emoting as well as cognizing, feeling as well as thinking, (2) treating emotions as internal reinforcements or punishments, and (3) Social exchange is conceptualized as a joint activity of two or more actors in which each actor has something the other values. The implicit or explicit task in exchange is to generate benefit for each individual by exchanging behaviors or goods that actors cannot achieve alone (Thibaut and Kelley 1959;Homans 1961;Emerson 1972b). The affect theory of social exchange expands the domain of exchange theorizing in two main ways. First, exchange outcomes-rewards and punishments-are construed as having emotional effects that vary in form and intensity. When exchanges occur successfully, actors experience an emotional uplift (a "high"), and when exchanges do not occur successfully, they experience emotional "downs" (Lawler and Yoon 1996). Mild everyday feelings, therefore, are intertwined with exchange. Positive emotions include e...

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