Emotional Reactions and Status in Groups

Lovaglia, Michael J.; Houser, Jeffrey A.

doi:10.2307/2096458

Cited by 178 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

101

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In stratified situations of subordination, order-takers do not always walk away deflated and emotionally subdued; instead, they can become significantly and contemptuously energized by ee − , developing a sense of frustration, resentment, jealousy, or even anger toward their superordinates. Such a proposal is consistent with the research on organizational dynamics that suggests subordinates, fueled by negative emotions, often resist or subvert structural goals in conditions of isolation and disparity [43][44][45].…”

Section: Propositionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Negative Emotional Energy: A Theory of the “Dark-Side” of Interaction Ritual Chains

Boyns

Luery

2015

Social Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Randall Collins' theory of interaction ritual chains is widely cited, but has been subject to little theoretical elaboration. One reason for the modest expansion of the theory is the underdevelopment of the concept of emotional energy. This paper examines emotional energy, related particularly to the dynamics of negative experiences. It asks whether or not negative emotions produce emotional energies that are qualitatively distinct from their positive counterparts. The analysis begins by tracing the development of Interaction Ritual Theory, and summarizes its core propositions. Next, it moves to a conceptualization of a "valenced" emotional energy and describes both "positive" and "negative" dimensions. Six propositions outline the central dynamics of negative emotional energy. The role of groups in the formation of positive and negative emotional energy are considered, as well as how these energies are significant sources of sociological motivation.

show abstract

Section: Propositionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Negative Emotional Energy: A Theory of the “Dark-Side” of Interaction Ritual Chains

Boyns

Luery

2015

Social Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Emotion theories raise many questions of relevance to social exchange (e.g., Hochschild 1983, Heise 1987, Frank 1988; they suggest new testable propositions that refine existing exchange predictions (e.g., Bower 1991), expand the range of phenomena treated by exchange theorizing (e.g., Lovaglia & Houser 1996, Lawler & Yoon 1996 and point toward a richer exchange-theory explanation for social cohesion and solidarity than is possible with extant cognitive or rationalchoice principles (see Hechter 1987). Our coverage has been necessarily selective, yet we have identified six traditions in the emotions literature that contain implicit or explicit claims about emotional aspects of social exchange-its context, process, or outcomes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By the same token, low status group members experience negative emotions and are more apt to conceal them from the group. Lovaglia & Houser (1996) propose the notion of "status compatible emotions" to explain how emotions combine with status to produce influence in groups. They suggest that positive emotion is compatible with high status, while negative emotion is compatible with low status.…”

Section: Structural/relational Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bringing Emotions Into Social Exchange Theory

1999

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We analyze and review how research on emotion and emotional phenomena can elaborate and improve contemporary social exchange theory. After identifying six approaches from the psychology and sociology of emotion, we illustrate how these ideas bear on the context, process, and outcome of exchange in networks and groups. The paper reviews the current state of the field, develops testable hypotheses for empirical study, and provides specific suggestions for developing links between theories of emotion and theories of exchange. Sociology, 25,. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. We analyze and review how research on emotion and emotional phenomena can elaborate and improve contemporary social exchange theory. After identifying six approaches from the psychology and sociology of emotion, we illustrate how these ideas bear on the context, process, and outcome of exchange in networks and groups. The paper reviews the current state of the field, develops testable hypotheses for empirical study, and provides specific suggestions for developing links between theories of emotion and theories of exchange. Suggested Citation

show abstract

“…In fact, emotion management accounts for why emotions are often hidden from view in social exchange contexts and, for that matter, other task-oriented, instrumental settings. Power or status differences are known to generate different emotions (Kemper 1978;Ridgeway and Johnson 1990) and to have important effects on the interaction of low-and high-status or power actors (Lovaglia and Houser 1996;Willer, Lovaglia, and Markovsky 1997). Emotions are subtle signals to actors about their own responses in interaction-as shown by affect control theory (Heise 1979)-and when expressed, they provide information on the intentions or orientation of others (Frank 1988).…”

Section: Affect Theory 323mentioning

confidence: 99%

An Affect Theory of Social Exchange

Lawler

2001

American Journal of Sociology

937

1,016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article develops a theory that explains how and when emotions, produced by social exchange, generate stronger or weaker ties to relations, groups, or networks. It is argued that social exchange produces positive or negative global feelings, which are internally rewarding or punishing. The theory indicates that social units (relations, groups, networks) are perceived as a source of these feelings, contingent on the degree of jointness in the exchange task. The jointness of the task is greatest if (1) actors find it difficult to distinguish their individual effects on or contributions to solving the exchange task (nonseparability) and (2) actors perceive a shared responsibility for success or failure at the exchange task. The theory explicates the effects of different exchange structures on these conditions and, in turn, on cohesion and solidarity. Implications are developed for network-to-group transformations. This article develops a theory that explains how and when emotions, produced by social exchange, generate stronger or weaker ties to relations, groups, or networks. It is argued that social exchange produces positive or negative global feelings, which are internally rewarding or punishing. The theory indicates that social units (relations, groups, networks) are perceived as a source of these feelings, contingent on the degree of jointness in the exchange task. The jointness of the task is greatest if (1) actors find it difficult to distinguish their individual effects on or contributions to solving the exchange task (nonseparability) and (2) actors perceive a shared responsibility for success or failure at the exchange task. The theory explicates the effects of different exchange structures on these conditions and, in turn, on cohesion and solidarity. Implications are developed for network-to-group transformations.This article proposes an affect theory of social exchange. The purpose is to incorporate emotions as an explicit, central feature of social exchange processes. The article accomplishes this by (1) conceptualizing individual actors as emoting as well as cognizing, feeling as well as thinking, (2) treating emotions as internal reinforcements or punishments, and (3) Social exchange is conceptualized as a joint activity of two or more actors in which each actor has something the other values. The implicit or explicit task in exchange is to generate benefit for each individual by exchanging behaviors or goods that actors cannot achieve alone (Thibaut and Kelley 1959;Homans 1961;Emerson 1972b). The affect theory of social exchange expands the domain of exchange theorizing in two main ways. First, exchange outcomes-rewards and punishments-are construed as having emotional effects that vary in form and intensity. When exchanges occur successfully, actors experience an emotional uplift (a "high"), and when exchanges do not occur successfully, they experience emotional "downs" (Lawler and Yoon 1996). Mild everyday feelings, therefore, are intertwined with exchange. Positive emotions include e...

show abstract

Emotional Reactions and Status in Groups

Cited by 178 publications

References 24 publications

Negative Emotional Energy: A Theory of the “Dark-Side” of Interaction Ritual Chains

Negative Emotional Energy: A Theory of the “Dark-Side” of Interaction Ritual Chains

Bringing Emotions Into Social Exchange Theory

An Affect Theory of Social Exchange

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About