Viewing emotions as social practices connects the mind and the body
In short: In this theoretical essay, researchers suggest that emotions are more than just internal feelings; they are active ways of engaging with the world. By treating emotions as 'practices,' the author argues we can bridge the gap between mental experiences and physical expressions, seeing them as actions shaped by our social surroundings.
This framework uses the idea of 'habitus' to show that our bodies are not static or universal, but are instead trained by specific cultural and historical contexts. This perspective allows historians to study how social power and environments shape emotional responses.
The essay outlines four types of emotional practices—mobilizing, naming, communicating, and regulating—but as a theoretical piece, it offers a new methodological lens rather than new empirical data.
Why it matters: Treating emotions as social habits helps historians understand how power and culture shape our physical and mental lives.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Scheer (2012). ARE EMOTIONS A KIND OF PRACTICE (AND IS THAT WHAT MAKES THEM HAVE A HISTORY)? A BOURDIEUIAN APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING EMOTION. History and Theory.
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