Individuals, collectives and emotions, or on social contexts of action : an Introduction

Bibliogr. s. 18

The chapter focuses on the genesis of the field of sociology of emotions in the context of sociological theory. It starts from the presence of emotions in classical sociology, especially in Georg Simmel to connect the contemporary rise in interest in emotions among sociologists with the growing importance of individual dimension. As examples, the concepts of 'emotional energy' (Randall Collins) and 'habitus' (Pierre Bourdieu) are discussed. It is argued that both those concepts link the individual features of particular human beings: their bearers, as well as indicate their collective dimension (emotions can be collective and as such bear structural resemblances).