City Research Online

Abstract

This chapter examines the interconnection between emotions, values and institutions in the growing polarization of public discourse, especially within social media environments. We argue that polarization, which involves the emotional manipulation of discourse and the construction of oppositional value identities, challenges managerial decision making. Drawing on theories of emotions, values, and symbols, particularly Randall Collins’ interaction ritual chain theory and the concept of emotional-symbolic work, we identify three main ways in which emotion-symbolic work shapes polarization: by shaping how authority claims are negotiated through the crafting of symbols; by enabling strategic interactions aimed at influencing meaning; and by promoting smallgroup cohesion through the circulation of symbols. This chapter contributes to the study of the micro-foundations of emotions and provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of emotional energy and its dynamics that lead to polarization.

Publication Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	© The Authors. Published by Springer. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons: Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Publisher Keywords:	polarization, emotion-symbolic work, emotions, values
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General) P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science
Departments:	Bayes Business School Bayes Business School > Faculty of Management
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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