For almost thirty years, sociologists have increasingly theorized about and conducted research on human emotions. Surprisingly, it was not until the 1970s that the sociology of emotions emerged as a coherent field of inquiry. What makes this late date surprising is that it is now obvious that human behavior, interaction, and organization are driven by emotions. It was an immense oversight for emotions to be de-emphasized in sociological theorizing and research for most of its 175 year history. Since the 1970s, however, the study of emotions has accelerated and is now at the forefront of sociological analysis.

Not until the 1970s did the sociology of emotions emerged as a coherent field of inquiry. Since then, however, the study of emotions has accelerated and is now at the forefront of sociological analysis. This book brings the reader up to date on the theory and research that have proliferated in the analysis of human emotions. Key researchers in the sociology of emotions review their own work and the work of others who have contributed to the sociological study of emotions. The first section of the book addresses the classification, the neurological underpinnings, and the effect of gender on emotions. The second reviews prominent sociological theories of emotion. Section three covers theory and research on specific emotions: love, jealousy and envy, empathy, sympathy, anger, grief, etc. The final section shows how the study of emotions has added new insight into other subfields of sociology: the workplace, health, and more.

Basic Processes.- The Classification of Emotions.- The Neuroscience of Emotions.- Gender and Emotion.- Theories.- Power and Status and the Power-Status Theory of Emotions.- Cultural Theory and Emotions.- Ritual Theory.- Symbolic Interactionism, Inequality, and Emotions.- Affect Control Theory.- Identity Theory and Emotions.- Self Theory and Emotions.- Emotion-Based Self Theory.- Psychoanalytic Sociological Theories and Emotions.- Social Exchange Theory of Emotions.- Emotion in Justice Processes.- Expectation States Theory and Emotion.- Evolutionary Theory and Emotions.- Select Emotions.- Love.- Jealousy and Envy.- Empathy.- Sympathy.- Anger.- Grief.- Moral Emotions.- Emotions in Social Life.- Emotions in the Workplace.- Emotions and Health.- Emotions and Social Movements.