Symbolic Interactionism as Affect Control

Neil J. MacKinnon is Professor at the University of Guelph.

"Symbolic Interactionism as Affect Control is the only readable english-language text that deals with the theoretical implications of Affect Control Theory for people who are qualitatively oriented and not methodologists. It will become required reading in all courses in sociological theory and in the sociology of emotions."The book contains an excellent argument for how Affect Control Theory both relates to historical theory and resolves specific paradoxes in contemporary theoretical approaches. I particularly like the way Dr. MacKinnon has spelled out the seven groups of propositions for Affect Control Theory and the way that he demonstrates that Affect Control Theory integrates the Chicago and Iowa Schools of Symbolic Interaction. I am also impressed with his discussion of culture and emotion theory." — John D. O'Brien, Program in the Measurement of Affect and Affective Processes, Indiana University

• Tables and Figures Foreword by David R. Heise Preface Acknowledgments 1. Introduction Affect Control TheoryPlan of this BookThe Rediscovery of AffectThe Social Psychology of EmotionSummary 2. Affect Control Theory Symbols, Language, and Affective MeaningCognitive ConstraintsAffective Response and ControlEvent AssessmentEvent ProductionEmotionsCognitive RevisionsSummary 3. Cognition, Affect, and Motivation Cognition and AffectMotivationSummary 4. Affect Control Theory and the Social Psychology of George Herbert Mead Emotions in Mead's Social PsychologyThe Social Psychology of Mead and Affect ControlSummary 5. Identities and Roles The Conceptual FrameworkTwo Schools of Role TheoryIdentity TheoryAffect Control Theory and Identity TheorySummary 6. Role Analysis The Affect Control Model for Role AnalysisRole AnalysisLearning and Accessing NormsSummary 7. Emotions The Constructionist Versus Positivist DebateThe Affect Control Theory of EmotionsEmotion AnalysisThe Constructionist Versus Positivist Debate and Affect Control TheorySummary 8. Reidentification Part I: The Established Model—Attributions and Identity LabelsPart II: The Expanded Model—The Effect of Expressed Emotions on Reidentification OutcomesSummary 9. Conclusion Relation to Other TheoriesAffect Control Theory as Sociological ExplanationAffect Control Theory as Integrative Social PsychologyDirections for Future Research and RefinementSummary Endnotes References Index