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The emotion regulation of performance work

Bergman Blix, Stina LU orcid and Minissale, Alessandra (2025) p.183-203
Abstract (Swedish)
This chapter explores performances of emotion regulation through a dramaturgical lens, focusing on occupations with high performative demands. While reviewing research and theorizing on performance, we point to key intersections between sociological studies on emotion management and psychological studies on emotion regulation. First, we focus on the scaffolding of performance, how the script and the staging of scripts influence emotion regulation and firmly places performance in a socially and hierarchically structured setting. Second, we zoom in on the collective micro-interactions of performance, employing the basics of theater acting: empathic attuning with the role, fellow actors and the audience; and the balancing of flow and control;... (More)
This chapter explores performances of emotion regulation through a dramaturgical lens, focusing on occupations with high performative demands. While reviewing research and theorizing on performance, we point to key intersections between sociological studies on emotion management and psychological studies on emotion regulation. First, we focus on the scaffolding of performance, how the script and the staging of scripts influence emotion regulation and firmly places performance in a socially and hierarchically structured setting. Second, we zoom in on the collective micro-interactions of performance, employing the basics of theater acting: empathic attuning with the role, fellow actors and the audience; and the balancing of flow and control; and how the managing of emotional performances are temporally adapted in different ways. Finally, we discuss how a dramaturgical perspective on performing emotion regulation can be developed in future research by comparing emotional cultures across occupations and countries; exploring changes in performance in digital spheres; and through methodological development to account for a wider range of emotional processes. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Emotion regulation; Performance; Scripts; Emotional improvisation; Social hierarchies; Empathy; Flow
host publication
Handbook of Emotion Regulation at Work
editor
Diefendorff, James ; Niven, Karen ; Erickson, Rebecca and Chi, Nai-Wen
pages
183 - 203
publisher
Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
ISBN
978 1 03531 459 1
DOI
10.4337/9781035314607.00019
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
122aaed6-f872-437c-ba5e-0014e2da5263
date added to LUP
2026-01-27 14:46:03
date last changed
2026-01-29 12:51:54
@inbook{122aaed6-f872-437c-ba5e-0014e2da5263,
  abstract     = {{This chapter explores performances of emotion regulation through a dramaturgical lens, focusing on occupations with high performative demands. While reviewing research and theorizing on performance, we point to key intersections between sociological studies on emotion management and psychological studies on emotion regulation. First, we focus on the scaffolding of performance, how the script and the staging of scripts influence emotion regulation and firmly places performance in a socially and hierarchically structured setting. Second, we zoom in on the collective micro-interactions of performance, employing the basics of theater acting: empathic attuning with the role, fellow actors and the audience; and the balancing of flow and control; and how the managing of emotional performances are temporally adapted in different ways. Finally, we discuss how a dramaturgical perspective on performing emotion regulation can be developed in future research by comparing emotional cultures across occupations and countries; exploring changes in performance in digital spheres; and through methodological development to account for a wider range of emotional processes.}},
  author       = {{Bergman Blix, Stina and Minissale, Alessandra}},
  booktitle    = {{Handbook of Emotion Regulation at Work}},
  editor       = {{Diefendorff, James and Niven, Karen and Erickson, Rebecca and Chi, Nai-Wen}},
  isbn         = {{978 1 03531 459 1}},
  keywords     = {{Emotion regulation; Performance; Scripts; Emotional improvisation; Social hierarchies; Empathy; Flow}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{183--203}},
  publisher    = {{Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.}},
  title        = {{The emotion regulation of performance work}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781035314607.00019}},
  doi          = {{10.4337/9781035314607.00019}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}