The Sociology of Emotions

"In The Sociology of Emotions Turner and Stets cover the waterfront of theoretical contributions in the extended area of the sociology of emotions. The format of the text is intuitive and reader-friendly."
-Canadian Journal of Sociology Online

All social relations involve emotional responses, from the simplest face-to-face encounter through the mobilization of social movements to the commitments that individuals develop for culture and society. The social world is thus dependent upon the arousal of emotions, and equally significant conflict and change in societies is ultimately driven by emotional arousal. Thus, it is important to understand how human emotions influence, and are influenced by, the social world. This understanding takes us into the sociology of emotions that has emerged as a distinct area of inquiry over the last thirty years.

Jonathan Turner is a general theorist who seeks to integrate existing theories into more robust and formal theories. He is the author of twenty-eight books and over 140 articles and chapters as well as editor of four other books. He also has been editor of Sociological Perspectives and is currently editor of Sociological Theory.

Jan Stets is a sociological social psychologist who studies self, identity, emotions, and interaction. She is the author of two books and over 40 research articles that have appeared in such journals as Sociological Theory, Social Psychology Quarterly, the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, and Sociological Perspectives.