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Emotional labor is the conscious management and control of emotions in social situations, coined by sociology professor Arlie Russell Hochschild. It can be done through cognitive, physical, and gestural methods to present oneself positively and improve relationships.
The term “emotional labor” refers to a person’s ability to manage and control their emotions, especially when interacting with other people. This is done consciously to preserve and improve relationships. The term was coined in 1979 by Arlie Russell Hochschild, a sociology professor who pioneered the inclusion of emotions in sociological studies.
Professor Hochschild distinguishes emotional labor from “emotional labor”, another term she coined. The former term specifically refers to effort made in close or “private” relationships, while the latter is applied to effort made in a “public” setting, such as in the workplace. Just as how a person dresses and looks a certain way can contribute to how they present themselves, control and, to some extent, agency, the appropriate emotions will help present a person in a positive light. Hochschild also argued that emotions have “rules” which are governed by the norms of certain social situations; our emotional reactions depend on where we are and who we are with. This is why some actions, such as arguing, are frowned upon when performed in public places.
There are several ways a person can do emotion work, one of which is the cognitive method where the person can consciously analyze their thoughts and rationalize which emotional response is the best, given a circumstance. Especially with anger, a person has a tendency to be irrational, so many experts suggest counting to ten or 100 to calm the emotions. In some cases, people think their way through an emotion while giving the “benefit of the doubt” to the situation or person they are in conflict with. By changing the way she thinks about someone or something, the person can change the way she feels. Some people who meditate regularly report that they manage their feelings better.
The second method of emotional work is the physical approach, in which the person uses his body to alter his mood, usually in an attempt to lessen his anger or calm nervousness. Many people usually resort to inhaling and exhaling deeply before speaking, and some roll their shoulders and twist their necks when yelled at or pushed. Scientifically, it has been proven that certain bodily activities can improve the management of emotions, which is why people with anger issues are advised to play a sport to create a healthy outlet for their emotions.
Emotional work can also be done through the method of gestures, somehow linked to the physical approach. A person can convey, hide or generate certain emotions using his body language. He may smile more often to create the feeling of happiness, or he may consciously avoid folding his arms to make people think he’s not a snob. Gestures can also involve doing something for the other person, like hugging or holding their hand while talking.
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