Emotional Labor is the process through which individuals regulate their own and others' feelings to achieve desired outcomes in interpersonal interactions. It involves monitoring one's emotions and behavior, managing these to present an appropriate image, and communicating this effectively to meet expectations from others. Emotional labor can be divided into three categories: surface acting, deep acting, and authentic expressing. Surface acting entails faking emotions, while deep acting requires changing one's internal state to display genuine emotion. Authentic expressing involves being true to oneself without compromising the needs of others.
Moral responsibility refers to the obligation of individuals to act ethically and morally towards others. It encompasses both the duties that arise from social contracts, such as laws and moral norms, and personal principles and values. Maintaining social cohesion involves ensuring that individuals behave in ways that promote collective good, cooperation, and harmony among members of society. This may include promoting trust, tolerance, reciprocity, and solidarity.
Emotional labor intersects with moral responsibility by requiring individuals to balance their own needs and desires against those of others. In some situations, it may be necessary to suppress or fake certain emotions for the sake of maintaining social harmony and avoiding conflict.
A waiter who has had a bad day may put on a smile and pretend to be happy around customers to enhance their experience and encourage them to return.
This can lead to burnout and resentment if it is done repeatedly or when there are no tangible rewards for doing so.
Emotional labor also intersects with the maintenance of social cohesion by shaping interpersonal relationships and interactions. People who have more practice engaging in emotional labor tend to be better at regulating their own and others' feelings, leading to greater communication and understanding between individuals.
It helps create a sense of commonality and belongingness by creating shared experiences and expectations within groups.
Employees who interact regularly with customers may develop a rapport based on shared experiences and expectations that contribute to a positive work environment.
Excessive emotional labor can undermine social cohesion by creating an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. It can lead to a lack of authenticity, as people feel pressured to present themselves in certain ways that do not reflect their true selves.
This can erode trust and goodwill among members of society, leading to increased tension and divisiveness.
Emotional labor intersects with moral responsibility and the maintenance of social cohesion through its role in managing interpersonal relationships and expectations. While it can promote cooperation and understanding, it can also lead to burnout and alienation if not managed carefully.
Individuals must balance their own needs against those of others while ensuring that they remain true to their values and principles in all situations.
How does emotional labor intersect with moral responsibility and the maintenance of social cohesion?
Emotional labor is a concept that refers to the efforts made by individuals to regulate their facial expressions, vocal tones, and body language so as to match certain expected emotional states in order to maintain social cohesion and/or fulfill job responsibilities. This can be seen as a form of moral responsibility, as it involves putting on an emotionally appropriate front for others' benefit, even if one may not actually feel those emotions oneself.