The Processes and Contexts of Emotional Involvement

International audienceThis chapter identifies the arguments necessary for a good conceptualization and inquiry method for emotions. In contrast to ethological and sociobiological approaches, he stresses why the study of affective reactions cannot ignore the importance of contexts and processes of formalization of social norms that vary in time and space. In fact, the researcher cannot claim to be able to correctly understand the role that emotions play in interactions in the absence of a detailed knowledge of the societies studied. Such a perspective does not lead to restore the excesses of an old-fashioned culturalism because highlighting the importance of contexts does not necessarily mean ignoring the latitude that individuals have when they work to modulate their affective states. Thus, analyzing the modulations of emotions, in context, helps to understand, how individuals work to reshape, not only the prevailing norms within their society, but also their own sensibilities and predispositions to commitment in collective action