BackStage

There is some really exciting work going on in the world of emotions. Whether it’s the use of physiology to study deflection in affect control theory, or simply the continued expansion of current theories to include emotions predictions (i.e. Stets on emotions and identity control theory, Stryker has a new piece on identity theory and emotions, Lawler and Thye’s prolific research on emotions in exchange theory…and I could go on), it seems that emotions research is HOT and will continue to be for a while.

One of the most amazing things I’ve seen on emotions has been done by an artist. Christian Nold had the goal of creating an”emotion map of the area that explores people’s relationship with their local environment.” Basically, Nold took 50 people and had them wear a device that measured both Galvanic Skin Response and and GPS position. The result? A map of emotions or, at very least, arousal! It recorded where people experienced heightened response. He later queried about why they felt arousal in those areas.

Sample map:

Sample map with 40 participants:

See the really cool Greenwich Emotion Map here. He has done this for San Francisco and Stockport too.

Did I mention he makes his data easily available to all? Some point pattern analysis anyone? If only I could get the hang of using R.

This is not his only awesome art project, but is the one that spoke most directly to me.

Can you imagine the possibilities for this in sociological studies?

For example, using electronic diary methods, we could beep individuals to fill out questionnaires through random intervals of the day–and chart their emotions at the same time. How do emotions change based on identities currently enacted? Another idea: We could look at difference in arousal based on geographic location in one’s own neighborhood versus traveling outside. In highly segregated cities, is part of that segregation reinforced through emotional arousal? Traveling into another neighborhood makes individuals feel uncomfortable–whether they are traveling into a “nicer” neighborhood or a more “dangerous” one? Are those that live in more affluent neighborhoods more likely to feel generally happier or better than those in lower class neighborhoods? Could this explain health differences? Does arousal change depending on the others with which we interact? If people selectively choose interactions based on likely emotions experienced (which I think we could argue–as it is generally accepted that individuals seek to enact particular identities, which bring with them particular emotions), does this effect interaction partners? Does the effect on likely interaction partners impact the construction of self and other? Think of the contact hypothesis–what if people avoid contact with certain classes of others because of emotions? Talk about understanding the interplay between structure and agency!!! I could go on and on.

Also of interest is this. Wired explains a governmental program:

Advanced Soldier Sensor Information System and Technology, or ASSIST, project aims to collect what a soldier sees, says and does in a combat zone — and then to weave those events into digital memories, so commanders can have a better sense of how the fight unfolded.

If they can do it in battle, we could do it for everyday life. Yet, getting someone to wear this equipment and agree to share it with us (and a large enough number of people to matter) would be very costly. Still, exciting stuff.

I want to give credit where credit is due. It was Mad Slave that originally found Nold and pointed me in his direction. Thank you, for this you enter the pantheon of heroes.

What other ideas can we think of for this new technology?