Emotion, Social Theory, and Social Structure

Abstract

Emotion, Social Theory, and Social Structure takes sociology in a new direction. It examines key aspects of social structure by using a fresh understanding of emotions categories. Through that synthesis emerge new perspectives on rationality, class structure, social action, conformity, basic rights, and social change. As well as giving an innovative view of social processes, J. M. Barbalet's study also reveals unappreciated aspects of emotions by considering fear, resentment, vengefulness, shame, and confidence in the context of social structure. While much has been written on the social consequences of excessive or pathological emotions, this book demonstrates the centrality of emotions to routine operations of social interaction. Dr Barbalet also re-evaluates the nature of social theory, for once the importance of emotions to social processes becomes clear, the intellectual constitution of sociology, and therefore its history, must be rethought.

Angry Young Men? Masculinities and Emotion among Young Male Activists in the Global Justice Movement

“…One reason for this is explicitly expressed in the quotation: that it contributed to them taking action and organizing the whole thing on such short notice. His description of the situation thus fits in with my discussion above of how the association between anger and taking action is one aspect that contributes to it being regarded as a positive emotion (cf: Barbalet, 1998;Fischer, 1991).…”

“…If fear is often comprehended as a paralyzing emotion, anger is seen as potentially constructive, based in the conception that if you get angry, you act, which enables you to change your situation (Barbalet, 1998;Fischer, 1991). Another quotation from the interview with Hannes exemplifies how this aspect of anger was reflected in my material:…”

Untitled

“…VIA THE TELEPHONE Vincent and Fortunati (2009) provided the most comprehensive analysis of emotions and the mobile phone, explaining the different roles of emotion in social context by drawing on Goffman (1969) andWright Mills (1951), as well as more recent theorists such as Barbalet (1998) and Hochschild (2005Hochschild ( , 2006. Their analysis suggests that, sociologically, emotions have been understood as a process of regulating and controlling behavior in a range of social settings, including the workplace (e.g., Goffman, 1969;Hochschild, 2005Hochschild, , 2006Wright Mills, 1951), and as ways to "better understand the social construction of the emotional life" (Fortunati & Vincent, 2009, p. 11).…”

The emotions: Senses of the modern self

“…Bellah et al 1986, chap. 6;McCarthy 1989a;Barbalet 1998;Giddens 1991;Lowney 1999). What follows is an argument for emotion studies that is both cultural-focussed on cultural systems of meaning as the locus of human emotionality -and historical, arguing that sociocultural changes across time will, in turn, be registered in the domain of human sentiments and experiences, although how precisely culture and experience change relative to each other is a matter to be investigated.…”

“…"The fortunes of a nation over the centuries become sedimented into the habitus of its individual members" (Elias 1996, p. 19 But what about the emotions and the self today, in this phase of modernity's history?Recent studies by sociologistsof the emotion address the general question of how and why the emotionsare importantin today'sworld (Barbalet 1998;Lupton 1998;Williams 2001) and each of these address the "civilizing"thesis of Elias and its contemporary relevance, a topic I will return to shortly. In addition, there is a growth of sociologicalstudies that address the role of emotions in multiple forms and contexts of social life: for example, in consumer cultures and mass media; the rise and growing influence and popularization of "therapeutic culture"; emotions and the problem of social controls -rising crime and violence -in advanced capitalist societies; the changing standards of behavior and feeling ushered in by globalization; the role of emotions in "identity movements" of races, ethnicities, nations, and sexualities.…”