Emotions

Shane Sharp

Jeffrey L. Kidder

pp. 341-367

in: Amanda Ward (ed), Handbook of social psychology, Berlin, Springer, 2013

Abstract

This piece reviews theory in research in the sociological social psychology of emotions. We discuss the definition of emotions, how emotions are typologized, research methods used in the study of emotions, and the association between biology, culture, and emotional experience. We then review several theoretical perspectives on emotions, including (1) classical sociological theory, (2) social structural theory, (3) emotion management and labor, (4) identity theory, (5) interaction theories, (6) phenomenological theory, (7) social exchange theory, and (8) evolutionary social psychological theory. We conclude with a discussion of recent trends in the study of emotions, including the association between emotional experiences and place, and emotions as performative.