Sociology Plus
Emotion Work Definition
Emotion work refers to the management of one’s emotions within social contexts, often involving complex interactions with others, and is frequently examined at the intersection of sociology and feminist studies. Historically, it has been understood as the effort undertaken by women, particularly wives and mothers, to compensate for men’s perceived inability to express or appropriately respond to others’ feelings. In a broader sociological context, emotion work involves regulating internal feelings through various means, which is deeply shaped by social expectations, cultural norms, and situational demands.
Theoretical Foundations
The study of emotions has been integrated into sociology since the work of early theorists such as Durkheim, Simmel, and Weber. Modern understanding posits that emotions are socially constructed, gain meaning within socio-historical settings, and are essential components of social interaction. Drawing on symbolic interactionism, emotion is viewed as having a signal function, communicating information about an individual’s position relative to social expectations and other actors. Emotion work involves managing these signals through culturally relevant rules to ensure appropriate emotional exchanges in social encounters.
Emotion Work vs. Emotional Labour
A crucial distinction exists between emotion work and emotional labour. Emotion work generally refers to the management of one’s emotions in private or interpersonal contexts, whereas emotional labour concerns the management of feelings displayed in public settings, such as within the workplace or service industry. The context surrounding these activities significantly influences the value placed on emotional labour, which can be commercialised, contrasting with the use value derived from emotion work.
Acting and Management
Emotion work encompasses processes such as surface acting and deep acting. Surface acting involves the purposeful management of outward behavioural expressions to appear to feel the emotion required by a situation. Deep acting, conversely, involves the internal effort to construct the genuine emotion that underlies the expected behaviour.
Historical Focus and Gendered Expectations
A significant area of research focused on how gender shapes emotion work, particularly within domestic and service settings. Women have historically shouldered the burden of emotion work in the household and the workforce, notably within the service industry. Feminist analyses highlighted this invisible labour, demonstrating how societal structures assign specific emotional responsibilities based on gender.
Contemporary Research and Applications
Current research extends the understanding of emotion management beyond the household and service sectors into various institutional settings, including organisations, social movements, and public spaces. Key theoretical approaches informing contemporary study include affect control theory, social constructionism, and power/structural theories. Research is often categorised by focus areas, such as managing specific emotions in relation to identity, examining gendered emotion management, studying emotional regulation within large organisations (like prisons or academia), and analysing negative or deviant emotions. Furthermore, the ability to monitor, understand, and influence one’s own and others’ emotional expressions in professional settings is often referred to as emotion intelligence, reflecting a practical application of these sociological insights in the business world.