Title: When emotional labour becomes 'good': the use of emotional intelligence

Authors: Haruo Sakiyama

Addresses: College of Social Sciences and the Global Centre of Exellence (COE) Programme, Ars Vivendi Research Centre, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto 603-8577, Japan

Abstract: Most sociologists have emphasised the negative effects of emotional labour and suggested several factors responsible for this. Moreover, there have been debates on how and why emotional labour causes negative effects on workers| self-esteem. This paper attempts to present the opinions of previous studies regarding emotional labour and its associated conditions. Then, the limitations of these studies will be considered taking into account current social consciousness. Through such considerations, a new perspective for the concept of emotional labour will be suggested, particularly in relation to how people want to do emotional labour through the use of emotional intelligence.

Keywords: emotional labour; emotional intelligence; workplace stress; alienation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2009.030934

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 2009 Vol.3 No.2, pp.174 - 185

Published online: 13 Jan 2010 *

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