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Cited by 209Psychology, Coaching, and TherapySocial Power and Status DynamicsEmotional Labor in Professions

Managing the emotions of others.

Thoits, Peggy A.·1996·Symbolic Interaction
DOI 10.1525/si.1996.19.2.85
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Abstract

Although research has focused on how individuals manage their own emotions, little attention has been paid to how individuals manage the emotions of other people. Here, I describe several techniques of interpersonal emotion‐management, drawing from observations of a psychodrama‐based encounter group which deliberately manipulated its members' feelings. Analysis reveals a number of strategies (e.g., group enactments, provocations, comforting) which, when used sequentially, produced first emotional loss of control in the individual and then positive emotion. Group solidarity was sometimes affected by these interpersonal emotion‐management techniques as well. Some techniques may be similar to those used in military training and cult group recruitment, although further research attention is needed in these arenas. Other settings in which members play upon the emotions of others should be examined to identify other interpersonal techniques and the sequencing of strategies which produce desired individual and group outcomes.

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Crossref · 10.1525/si.1996.19.2.85

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  • Such group-supportive acts of providing ER-aides for an individual have feedback on other members via direct emotional contagion or vicarious participation, leading to group-level display of uplifting affects.

    “Such group-supportive acts of providing ER-aides for an individual would in turn have a feedback on the other members. This happens by means of direct emotional contagion (e.g., seeing someone crying lets the observers breaking out in tears themselves) or vicarious participation (imaginatively taking up the perspective of the targeted protagonist), and leads to group-level display of uplifting”

    From Collaborative Irrationality, Akrasia, and Groupthink: Social Disruptions of Emotion Regulation (2017) · cites this paper as Thoits, 1996

  • In a psychodrama encounter group, the group's ER-strategies strongly influence the emotions of a targeted individual, and group-level ER-strategies have significant feedback effects on the group-level display of emotions and the solidarity of the group as such.

    “Thoits (1996), for example, demonstrates how in a psychodrama encounter group the group’s ER-strategies strongly influence the emotions of a targeted individual. Even more strikingly for present purposes, these group-level ER-strategies have significant feedback effects on the group-level display of emotions and the solidarity of the group as such.”

    From Collaborative Irrationality, Akrasia, and Groupthink: Social Disruptions of Emotion Regulation (2017) · cites this paper as Thoits, 1996

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Authors
Thoits, P. A.
Affiliations
Vanderbilt University (US)
Corresponding author
Thoits, Peggy A.
ORCID
Thoits, Peggy A.
Venue
Symbolic Interaction
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1996-06
Volume
19
Issue
2
Pages
85-109
ISSN
  • 0195-6086 (ISSN-L)
  • 1533-8665
DOI
10.1525/si.1996.19.2.85
OpenAlex
W2055743736
Cited by
209
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 11
FWCI
9.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 5682 d)
Locations
Symbolic Interaction (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychology, Coaching, and Therapy
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Emotional Labor in Professions
Keywords
emotional management, psychodrama, encounter groups, provocation, comforting, group solidarity, military education

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