Sympathy Biography and Sympathy Margin

Abstract

Sympathy is an emotion guided by cultural "feeling rules" and by the structure of relationships. This article examines how sympathy flows between sympathizer and sympathizee in our society's "emotional economy." Data from field observations, surveys, interviews, and content analyses show that sympathy margins exist as a right of group membership. The sizes of one's sympathy margins vary with, among a host of factors, one's sympathy biography or past adherence to sympathy etiquette. Rules of sympathy etiquette for sympathizees are the following: (1) do not make unwarranted claims to sympathy, (2) do not claim too much sympathy, (2a) do not accepts sympathy too readily, (3) claim and accept some sympathy to keep sympathy accounts open, and (4) repay sympathy with gratitude, with sympathy, or with both. Sympathizers are expected to enforce these rules; people who under-or overinvest are considered deviant sympathizers. Finally, sympathy processes may be used, consciously or unconsciously, for micropolitical ends.