Current Emotion Research in Anthropology: Reporting the Field

Abstract

An internal critique of anthropology in recent decades has shifted the focus and scope of anthropological work on emotion. In this article I review the changes, explore the pros and cons of leading anthropological approaches and theories, and argue that—so far as anthropology is concerned—only detailed narrative accounts can do full justice to the complexity of emotions. A narrative approach captures both the particularity and the temporal dimension of emotion with greater fidelity than semantic, synchronic, and discourse-based approaches.

Crisis Reporters, Emotions, and Technology

“…Diverse pieces of sociological and anthropological research and theory long ago proved that emotions do not belong exclusively to the domain of psychology but are a relevant and researchable theme within sociology and anthropology (e.g. Beatty 2013;Lutz and Abu-Lughod 1990;, whether concerned with organizations and institutional power structures or the human body and biopower. However, a new question kept arising: how to study emotions?…”

‘Oh my God, I can't handle this!’: trainees’ emotional responses to complex situations

“…16,17 This suggests that only detailed narrative accounts may do justice to the complexity of emotions as constructed and negotiated in different social contexts. 19 Telling stories can help patients 'grapple with the loss of health or find meaning in their suffering' and lead health care professionals to better understand patients' experiences. 20 Narratives may also help students make sense of their experiences, actions and identities, and have been applied to study medical students' responses to emotionally charged situations, for instance in the context of early clinical experience and end-of-life care 4 or professionalism issues.…”

Creative Nonfiction and the Research Method

“…Diverse pieces of sociological and anthropological research and theory long ago proved that emotions do not belong exclusively to the domain of psychology but are a relevant and researchable theme within sociology and anthropology (e.g. Beatty 2013;Hochschild 1983;Illouz 2007;Lutz and Abu-Lughod 1990;Rosaldo 1984;Scheper-Hughes and Lock 1987), whether concerned with organizations and institutional power structures or the human body and biopower. However, a new question kept arising: how to study emotions?…”