SOC344 2020 Tut3 – Fri 12.30pm

The term socialisation relates to different cultures and socially constructed ways can impact us heavily on the way we feel emotions. There was six aspects we took away from this reading explained in great depth around the definitions of emotions being centred around; bodily feelings, expressions, physiological changes, motivations to act, situational cues, social labels, rules about which emotions are to be dismayed and where and the work required to manage ones emotions In relation to organisational expectations, I believe these are things that as we grow older we pick up on as children and take to our adult life in order to stay ‘emotionally available and aware’. Late modernity is to do with identifying current contemporary social conditions and how this has changed since the 1970s. Another point this reading brought up was the rise of the digital age and how there was such a rapid increase of technological change. Before late modernity this text explains that the modern industrial period helped it flow and helped examine the areas of change from the industrial to the modern and classical era. This text was then divided into sections explaining each subject they were explaining. Classical emotions is the dualistic conceptualisations of mind and body, reason and emotion; and the internalisation of socio-emotional norms, initiated by etiquette manuals. It is the idea of dualism and the separation of mind and body originating in Ancient Greece. Modern emotions ties into a more complex way of understanding emotions and teaching people on how to mediate their emotions in social contexts. Individualised emotions giving us the ability to be sensual and concentrate on aspects of ourselves which can forever be improving. Commodified emotions circling around lifestyle, patterns and opportunity. Mediated emotions which are deemed by the media and how we interpret world events and entertainment, social media plays a significant role in this. Finally reflexively managed emotions which we use to keep up with society standards and how we can control the ever-changing world with opportunity and inner success. Concluding this text I looked at how late modernity is an endless spiral of social and political changes where online communication has become so important and almost toxic in the way that we can’t read human behaviour and adapting to new cultural and and emotional climates is becoming harder and harder, although as times are changing we need to change with it in a positive way. #S344UOW20 #Tut3 #Fri1230

I agree with many others that Plutchik's 'colour wheel' of emotions is compelling and interesting. This wheel appears quite insightful and useful when applied to the circumstances of today. Many people describe their feelings as a combination of sorts; anxiety, worry, gratitude, fear. The list goes on. I would definitely say that during this time I feel complex emotions. There is anxiety over how these circumstances will affect us in the long term and there is gratitude for my father still receiving an income. Patulny and Olson (2019) discuss how emotions in late modernity have become increasingly complex and commodified. This is clearly reflected in the described feelings above in response to current circumstances. Whilst our complex emotions might stem from one of the six universal basic emotions described by Ekman, it becomes more difficult to truly and effectively capture/convey how we are feeling with one word. To continue with the discussion of Patulny and Olson, it does seem as though these unsure and complex emotions are becoming commodified. Mass media all around us is picking up on our negative emotions and selling us new stories about COVID-19. Whilst in late modernity, our emotions are deemed to be our own personal matters to control, I cannot help but wonder whether we are actually subconsciously being told how to feel by the media. If they are commodifying our emotions to make some sort of benefit or profit from them, wouldn't it make sense if mass media aimed to guide us into feeling certain complex emotions and not others? #SOC344UOW20 #Tut3 #Fri1230

Patulny and Olson (2019) discuss how emotions have become more complex in late modernity and state that Western societies are becoming more individualised and reflexive which leads to the process of crafting identities. In doing so, individuals may feel a sense of uncertainty or ambivalence whilst paving their path and are impacted by external entities such as the media and other industries that seek to commodify our emotions. Whilst we are facing the social consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, I can articulate a number of emotions that I have felt in response to our changing environment; Frustration, sadness, boredom, guilt and concern. Patulny and Olson reference that ‘sociologists have suggested that basic emotions combine in socially constituted ways to form more complex emotions…’ (2019, p. 15). Could my ‘basic’ emotions actually be categorised as more complex due to their combined effect? Is it possible to create new labels for emotions post-pandemic due to the fact that many of us are experiencing a global pandemic for the first time? Scrolling through pages of social media confirm that I am not the only person feeling these emotions. This leads me to believe that my feelings are social rather than individual. The media is very clever at ensuring that its messaging maintains social order by instigating emotions from the masses such as fear and sadness. My peer Oliver who discussed the role the media has played in manipulating civil society by exposing and amplifying mass hysteria and panic echoes this. With this in mind, is it fair to say that individuals with more ‘emotional capital’ are more likely to manage through the coronavirus global pandemic? #S344UOW20 #Tut3 #Fri1230

Patulny and Olson provide discussion on the effect that external factors can have upon an individual’s emotions, such as how modern institutions such as mass media and the nation-state can manipulate the emotional mindsets of civil society. This can be exemplified with the current hysteria and panic experienced by communities around the world due to continuous broadcasts by media outlets reporting on COVID-19, as well as the newly imposed restrictions on people in such forms like quarantine. I find myself with varied emotions during these uncertain times, feeling anxious and concerned for the wellbeing of my family and friends who are still working due to the essential nature of their jobs, but also relief that they are still able to work. I also feel frustration at being stuck inside the house, however there is also joy in this as it has also resulted in most of my friends being in the same situation, and we all now have more free time and actually have time to play games and talk online with each other again. This reflects what Patulny and Olson discuss in the reading, as it illustrates how my emotional state has been impacted by the media and also my social relations.

I find Plutchik’s 'colour wheel’ of emotions is compelling as our emotions become complex when they are in combination with different intensities of the basic emotions of joy, sadness, trust, disgust, fear, anger, surprise, and anticipation. Lately, I have been feeling very mixed emotions with the effects of COVID-19, I have felt a mixture of sadness, as I watch my family lose their business, yet joy and gratefulness that my job is secure, but at the same time anger and fear, thus my emotion is directly affected by external factors. Patulny and Olson emphasise this within their paper as they argue that our emotions are directly affected by our social and environmental circumstances. They become mediated, social media and the news mitigates our emotions. For example, the fear and “survival” mode, people have been experiencing due to how the media portrayed the pandemic. #S344UOW20 #Tut3 #Fri1230

Plutchik’s colour wheel is an interesting concept and the idea of emotions combining to create other emotions makes sense to me. Complex emotions cannot simply arise without any other emotional interaction, thus there must be a combining of simpler emotions to create more complex ones. Applied to the present day, I would suggest people are experiencing new combinations or intensities of emotions that they have previously not felt, due to the coronavirus pandemic. There are widespread feelings of ambiguity due to the unprecedented and ever-changing nature of the world we are living in. This situation highlights one of the differences of emotions in late modernity compared to earlier time periods, raised by Patulny and Olson (2019); the speed at which we are required to adapt to new emotional conditions. The rapid pace at which coronavirus has spread has required equally rapid adjustment from people, globally. More so now than ever, people are looking outward for how to feel to government statements, the media, social media and networks of friends and family. Our emotions are increasingly mediated in the current climate, yet people now have more time at home to reflexively manage their emotions. Will an increase in both reflexive emotional management and mediation of emotions lead to higher levels of ambivalence or allow people to become more certain about what they are feeling?

Blog two - Civilised Bodies, Complex Emotions. An ambiguous nature of emotional experience is encountered when feeling and emotions are not identical (Burkit I, 2002). I am currently experiencing this in regards to the spread of COVID19. I feel anxious for the wellbeing of my family, particularly living with someone who is quadreplegic (very vulnerable) however my emotions are rather content. An overwhelming sense of emotion can occur which may be difficult to distinguish or compartmentalise, however choice of stimulation is vital (Wouters C ,2004). Constant use of social media, watching the news or listening to radio can often fuel these emotions of uncertainty and fear/anxiety. Unlike the middle ages which experienced great uncertainty and fear due to societal treatment and religious influences (devils work), nowadays the media plays a large part in societal emotional influence (Lupton D, 1998). Behaviours such as hoarding toilet paper, rice, pasta, cereals, tissues and cleaning products were seen in all super markets across the country only recently fueled by fear spread by this platform of communication. This behaviour driven by emotions becoming a pattern by many Australians creates many issues for the most vulnerable people in the country. My exposure to disability at home and working as a disability support care worker shapes my emotions and response to this even more so. My feelings are most definitely complex. How can we as a nation learn to step outside our own lives and be more emotionally intune to our community? References: Burkitt, I 2002, Complex emotions: relations, feelings and images in emotional experience, The Sociological Review, pp 151-167. Lupton D, 1998, Emotions, Bodies, Selves, The Emotional Self, pp 71-104. Wouters C, 2004, Changing regimes of manners and emotions: from disciplining to informalizing. Norbert Elias Manners Emotions Disciplining Informalising. #S344UOW20 #Tut3 #Fri1230

I see a lot of truth in Ekman’s theory that emotions are complex and built on these “primary” emotions. I would argue that secondary emotions are developed through socialisation and the development of society. Particularly entering the modern era, with the normalisation of technology that documents every aspect of our lives. Secondary emotions such as pride, shame and guilt have expanded to cover more sections of our lives. Where we must create a brand for ourselves that is socially acceptable and sustainable 24/7. Whereas in previous centuries, the primary emotions of fear, anger, depression and satisfaction were the main focus to ensure survival. Yet today, in the developed world in particular, survival which relies on these emotions has been achieved. Thus, secondary emotions such as pride and guilt have been given room to grow and guide social life in person and online. #S344UOW20 #Tut3 #Fri1230