Evaluate Arlie Hoshschilds Social Therory of Human Emotions essays

Evaluate Arlie Hoshschild's Social Therory of Human Emotions essays Evaluate Arlie Hochschild ¡s social theory of human emotions. The study of emotion is relatively new to the sociological arena. Writers have, in the past touched on the subject in relation to their particular theories. Marx for example uses the concept of alienation as a key part to his meta-theory of society. However, it was not until recently, that a 'sociology of emotion ¡ had been studied as an isolated concept. The American writer and social theorist, Arlie Hochschild is seen as one of the key writers to address the social aspects of emotion in a more direct way than previous writers. Hochschild ¡s work raises a number of important points that go towards a social study of emotions. 'Emotion management ¡, 'feeling rules ¡ and 'emotional labour ¡ are just some of the concepts Hochschild has brought to the debate. This paper will attempt to provide a critique of Hochschild ¡s social theory of human emotions. Firstly, the paper will highlight the key concepts and ideas that Hochschild raises in her theory. The second part of the paper will draw on a number of key writers on the subject, in an attempt to bring to light the main problems in her work. These criticisms will be centred on the idea that Hochschild ¡s work is, over-simplistic and ahistorical. It will also attempt to show that 'emotion management ¡ is nothing new to human society that has always, to some degree, relied on the management of emotion. Many writers see Hochschild ¡s work as foundational to the development of a 'sociology of emotions ¡. Stemming from the writings of Goffman and other 'symbolic interactionists ¡, her work has managed to clarify many of the problems social theory has encountered when seeking a social, as opposed to psychological explanation for our emotions. There is also a Marxist element to her work, which rejuvenates his theory of Alienation, this time with reference to 'emotional ¡ labour. In her analysis of flight attendants she bel...