Emotion

Summary

The sociology of emotions has grown since its inception in the 1970s. Two main traditions shape the field: a social-psychological approach and a humanities-oriented approach. Despite their different intellectual roots, both approaches have focused on how power, structure, and culture collectively shape the distribution of emotions within a society. Much of the empirical work examines emotional disparities across social identities like gender, race, and sexuality. Given the field’s origins in emotion work and emotional labor, the workplace continues to serve as a central site of inquiry. Additionally, emotions play a foundational role in legal systems, political life, and social movements, forming another major pillar of sociological research. Looking forward, promising directions center on technological and methodological advancements that expand possibilities for studying emotional life.