Table of Contents
- Theoretical Foundations
- Mechanisms of Emotion Work
- Contexts of Emotion Work
- Implications for Sociological Research
- Conclusion
Emotion work, a concept pivotal in sociology, encapsulates the processes by which individuals manage their emotions to align with societal expectations. This concept, introduced by sociologist Arlie Hochschild in her seminal work “The Managed Heart” (1983), underscores the performative and regulatory dimensions of emotions in everyday life. Emotion work is integral to understanding how individuals navigate social interactions, manage relationships, and maintain social order. This essay aims to outline and explain the concept of emotion work, its theoretical foundations, and its implications for sociological research.
Theoretical Foundations
Definition and Scope
Emotion work refers to the effort individuals exert to evoke, suppress, or manage their emotions in accordance with social norms and expectations. Hochschild distinguishes between emotion work, emotional labor, and emotion management. Emotion work is the intrapersonal effort to align one’s feelings with societal norms, while emotional labor involves managing emotions for a wage, typically within service-oriented professions. Emotion management, on the other hand, encompasses both these processes and the broader societal mechanisms that regulate emotions.
Social Construction of Emotions
Central to understanding emotion work is the notion that emotions are socially constructed. Unlike biological determinism, which posits that emotions are innate and universally experienced, the social constructionist perspective argues that emotions are shaped by cultural, social, and historical contexts. Emotions are learned through socialization, and their expression is governed by feeling rules—socially shared norms that dictate the appropriate emotions for a given situation. For instance, feeling rules prescribe that grief is appropriate at funerals, while joy is expected at celebrations.
Mechanisms of Emotion Work
Surface Acting and Deep Acting
Hochschild identifies two primary strategies of emotion work: surface acting and deep acting. Surface acting involves altering one’s outward emotional expressions without changing the underlying feelings. This might include faking a smile or suppressing tears. Deep acting, however, entails modifying one’s internal emotions to genuinely feel the expected emotion. This can be achieved through cognitive reframing or by invoking past emotional experiences that align with the required feelings.
