Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.5, 2017

A Sociological Exploration of the Contemporary Emotional System

(Abstract)

Cheng Boqing

“Emotional system” refers to discourse and practice revolving around a set of normative emotions and their expression at a particular time and in particular social settings. This perspective provides an analytical approach that reveals the interactive mechanism between personal feelings and social structure. Corresponding to the changes in three key domains of contemporary society, the emotional system also falls into three types: the finishing system in the domain of work, the experience system in the consumer domain, and the performance system in the domain of communication. The three systems are in tension but also overlap, leading to a number of complexities. At the same time, underlying these emotional systems is a common tendency that leads to shared emotional phenomena. Analysis and diagnosis based on the emotional system provide a sociological approach to understanding and resolving contemporary emotional issues.