Collective Emotions in a Postmodern Era

• In Event: 447 - Section on Social Psychology Roundtable Session (co-sponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 06. Emotions and Theory Construction

Abstract

Despite an agreement in literature on the existence of collective emotions, this concept has rarely been examined and discussed. As literature dating back to Durkheim continues to suggest that collective emotion emerges out of group identification/commitment, this paper argues using Durkheim, Hochschild, and Baudrillard that because of the rapid growth of technology and the role that media plays in everyday life, people no longer need to be physically present within a situation or location to develop collective emotions—strangers who have never met can still be part of a collective reality in which collective emotion emerges. This paper argues that definitions of the “collective” needs to redefined to encompass the postmodern society.

Author

• Jenny Nguyen, University of Central Flordia