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THE STAGING OF EMOTION: A DRAMATURGICAL ANALYSIS *
Author(s) -
Zurcher Louis A.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
symbolic interaction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.874
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1533-8665
pISSN - 0195-6086
DOI - 10.1525/si.1982.5.1.1
Subject(s) - psychology , emotional expression , social psychology , emotional behavior , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology
Dramaturgical analysis is employed in a participant observation study of the emotional performances of fans, coaches and players at a college football game. The structure of the staging for emotional display is described, as is the phasing of people into sets of contextually appropriate performances. The phasing is seen to evolve from expectation for emotional experience, to diffuse emotional readiness, and finally to specific emotional displays. The staging and phasing are shown to be directed by cue‐producing others and events which evoke rapidly shifting emotional expressions. The implications of the findings for contrived emotional settings other than footgall games are discussed.