Politics and Emotion5/7/2014

How does emotion move politics?

What is the role of emotion in social mobilization?

Preliminary Findings“uncertainty” and “feeling alive” in the Occupy Movement (Gould 2012)

“Let’s Talk” in anti-racist movement org (Srivastava 2006)

anger, guilt, tears divert action from structural changes

Further Findings: in RhetoricShaming within asylum debate (Every 2013)

Management of guilt in parenting circles (Godwin 2004)

Employing empathy in public apology (Augoustinos et al. 2011)

Emotional, moral discourse in rhetoric (Micciche 2005)

Inferences and Implicationsa moral order

self and identity; self and the other

“emotional reasoning”

Other FindingsAffect and “emotional habitus” influencing ACT UP and the LBGTQ movement (Gould 2009)

If there are connections between emotion and action, “why”?

Through what mechanisms does emotion motivate us?

Basic, physiological emotions in response to power contexts (Kemper 1984)

SarbinEmotions arise from “patterned efforts to resolve moral issues” and shape one’s moral identity.

Berezin1) Emotion evaluation (physical state)2) Cognition3a) Rational Action

actions based on interest and efficiency3b) Non-rational Action actions based upon morals, values, appetites4) Narrative

Scheff

Goffman and Freund

KemperWe have basic, physiological emotions such as fear and anger in response to power contexts.