First Published in 2001. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The study of emotion tends to breach traditional academic boundaries and binary lingustics. It requires multi-modal perspectives and the suspension of dualistic conventions to appreciate its complexity. This book analyses historical, philosophical, psychological, biological, sociological, post-structural, and technological perspectives of emotion that it argues are important for a viable social psychology of emotion. It begins with early ancient philosophical conceptualisations of pathos and ends with analytical discussions of the transmission of affect which permeate the digital revolution. It is essential reading for upper level students and researchers of emotion in psychology, sociology, psychosocial studies and across the social sciences.

This textbook is designed for upper-level courses on affective science. The lively, integrative chapters review empirical research on emotion at every level of analysis, including the neural bases of emotions, complex emotions, emotion and cognitive processes, emotion regulation, and an examination of social levels of analysis including emotions in groups, gender, and cultural differences. This 2nd edition has greater inclusion of research findings from neuroscience and includes highly effective learning devices, such as ‘Development Detail’ boxes; bolded key terms; ‘Learning Links’ to online supplemental materials; and many tables, figures and illustrations that make topics come alive.

"A thoughtful, scholarly yet accessible account of emotion that speaks to current debates associated with the ‘affective turn’ in disciplines including sociology, cultural studies, geography and psychology... invaluable for anyone wanting to understand contemporary engagements with affect, emotion and feeling." - John Cromby, Loughborough University "A lucid, engaging, and thoroughly insightful review of current social scientific thinking on emotions in social life by a leading scholar in the field... The book is sure to become essential reading for both students and researchers interested in emotion" - Jason Hughes, University of Leicester "A masterful exposition of the links between emotions and social relations... Empirically rich and theoretically deep, this is a highly readable book. - Svend Brinkmann, University of Aalborg This book is a compelling and timely addition to the study of emotions, arguing that emotion is a response to the way in which people are embedded in patterns of relationship, both to others and to significant social and political events or situations. Going beyond the traditional discursive understanding of emotions, Burkitt investigates emotions as a complex and dynamic phenomenon that includes the whole self, body and mind, but which always occur in relation to others.

A fascinating exploration of the relationship between gender and emotion.

A study of the phenomenon of emotion contagion, or the communication of mood to others.

`There is much that is fascinating here. Long-established experiments and conclusions are rubbished and reinterpreted, long-established assumptions and beliefs about emotions are soundly trounced, and generally a good going-over is delivered to the whole field... it is such a blockbuster that one can only reel backwards and tell anyone studying the subject that they would be crazy not to get it′ - Self & Society This fascinating book overviews the psychology of the emotions in its broadest sense, tracing historical, social, cultural and biological themes and analyses. The contributors - some of the leading figures in the field - produce a new theoretical synthesis by drawing together these strands. From the standpoint of the function of the emotions in everyday life, the authors focus on: the discursive role played by the emotions in expressing judgements about, attitudes to and contrition for actions done by the self and others, and how certain emotions - such as guilt, shame, embarrassment, chagrin and regret - seem to play a role in social control; the variation and diversity in emotion, which provides scope for exploring how patterns of emotion contrast in different societies, across gender lines, at different historical times, and between children and adults; and the way in which the body is shaped and its functions influenced by culturally maintained patterns of emotion displays.