ABSTRACT
This chapter presents theoretical approaches for the purpose of shedding light on empirical observations of increased demands for social skills and emotional self-control, together with stronger censorship regarding expressions of anger. The chapter argues that these demands reflect a new normativity regarding appropriate and valuable autonomous subjects. The presentation includes Elias’ civilization approach; the interactionist and ethnomethodological perspectives from Goffman and Garfinkel; the governmentality approach from Foucault, Dean, and Rose; Hochschild's approach to emotional labour; ideas from new capitalism (Boltanski and Chiapello; Moulier-Boutang) about changes in the sphere of production; and approaches to domination and/or emotional capital from Bourdieu, Skeggs, and Illouz. While some theoretical approaches provide an understanding of what is at stake in social interactions, they contribute less to an understanding of changes, and vice versa. Further, while some theories insist on the beneficial and functional aspects of the mentioned skills, others take a critical stand on how norms for interaction work in power relations or contribute to social differentiation along axes such as gender, ethnicity, and class. Attempting at a synthetization, the chapter highlights how certain groups are made valuable while others are (potentially) marginalized by the increased demands for social skills and emotional control.
