Title: Collective feelings and the politics of affect and emotion

Authors: Paul Hoggett

Addresses: Centre for Psycho-Social Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK

Abstract: This paper distinguishes between affect and emotion as two different aspects of human feeling. Ways of conceptualising such feelings as socially organised as well as individually experienced are then suggested. These concepts include |structures of feeling|, |abiding affects|, |emotional habitus| and fleeting emotional reactions. Illustrations of each of these are provided. Finally, research methods drawing on observation, free association and imagery are particularly appropriate for the investigation of collective feelings.

Keywords: anxiety; social suffering; ressentiment; affective communication; collective feelings; affect; emotion; feeling structures; abiding affects; emotional habitus; fleeting emotional reactions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2009.030930

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 2009 Vol.3 No.2, pp.120 - 131

Published online: 13 Jan 2010 *

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