Sociology of Emotions (2025)

Welcome to Sociology of Emotions

Aim 
The aim of the course it to familiarize students with classical and contemporary perspectives in the sociology of emotions, to enable students to critically discuss theoretical assumptions, methodological approaches, and empirical results within the sociology of emotions and to construct a theoretical framework and methodological approach to a specific research problem in the student’s own ongoing or planned project.

Target group 
The course is only open for PhD students.
This PhD course addresses both PhD students unfamiliar with the sociology of emotions and PhD students who are more experienced with the field. The first group will obtain knowledge about the key concepts, theoretical traditions and methodological discussions in the field. The second group will obtain new perspectives on their own work through the attentiveness to theoretical development, methodological concerns and discussions of how to apply theories and concepts in specific analyses.

Content
The study of emotions is inherently multidisciplinary as it engages with biological and psychological as well as social and cultural theory and research. With this point of departure, the focus of the sociological discipline, as well as of this course, is on the social, and sociologically relevant, aspects of emotions. The course offers a broad overview of theories and research in the sociology of emotions, spanning from the classics to contemporary theories and research. Both structural and situational/interactional approaches to the role of emotions in social life are explored. Part of the course deals with the students’ research projects, through which there is opportunity to discuss project ideas in relation to the various perspectives on emotions presented. There will also be opportunity to discuss various methods employed and ways to apply and develop theory in the analysis of empirical data. All participants are required to read and relate some key texts (compulsory literature), but thereafter encouraged to focus independently on their own area of research.  

The course begins with a series of lectures on sociological approaches to emotions, some current debates, and the exemplification of ongoing research projects. These lectures are followed by a series of short workshops where participant’s ideas and possible approaches are worked out with guidance from the teachers. An online midterm seminar, to discuss abstracts for exam papers, will be arranged about midterm of the course period. For the remaining part of the course students develop their papers and expand their chosen area of specialization, adding relevant emotion sociological literature. The course ends with the presentation and discussion of a working paper (optionally as a draft journal article) at the final seminar of the course.  Written and oral presentations take place throughout the course. Participants partake in at least two seminars (midterm and final) where they present their own work as well as comment on the work of other participants.  The course offers both a broad perspective on the state of the art of the sociology of emotions, as well as in-depth specialization in the chosen research area of each student.  The course is offered in collaboration between The Department of Sociology at the University of Copenhagen, the Department of Sociology and Work Science at the University of Gothenburg and the Department of Sociology and Social Work at Aalborg University.  

The course runs on half-time (50%) over ten weeks. 

Course teachers

• Åsa Wettergren, asa.wettergren@socav.gu.se
• Karl Malmqvist, karl.malmqvist@sodav.gu.se
• Poul Poder, pp@soc.ku.dk
• Merete Monrad, monrad@socsci.aau.dk

Course language
The teaching language is English.

Dates and time: 20-22 August, 8 October, and 20-21 November 2025.

Location
The introductory series of lectures, seminar and workshops is located at the Department of Sociology at the University of Copenhagen and the final seminar is located at the Department of Sociology and Work Science at the University of Gothenburg. The midterm seminars will take place online via Zoom. The course has no fee but travel and accommodation costs as well as all meals need to be covered by each student’s home department.

Seminars
The purpose of the online midterm seminars is to develop one’s research with emotion sociological perspectives in a synopsis of the course paper (1500-2000 words), which will be commented and discussed at the seminar. Students will read and comment on each other’s synopsis. See further information below. The final seminar is a paper seminar with two appointed student commentators on each paper. Course teachers will be participating in the seminars and commenting on the papers too.