The Interpersonal Dynamics of Emotion
Toward an Integrative Theory of Emotions as Social Information

Emotional expressions are omnipresent, but how do they influence us? This book highlights the pervasive interpersonal effects of emotions.

Gerben A. van Kleef (Author)

9781107686649, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 April 2018

327 pages, 21 b/w illus. 3 tables
23 x 15.3 x 1.8 cm, 0.5 kg

'Readers of The Interpersonal Dynamics of Emotion by Gerben A. van Kleef will discover the many ways in which our behaviors and attitudes are shaped by the emotions that other people express during social interactions. The ability to understand the profound influences of expressed emotions should prove extremely useful to those interested in leading, negotiating, and cooperating with others more effectively.' Stéphane Côté, University of Toronto

Emotions are an elemental part of life - they imbue our existence with meaning and purpose, and influence how we engage with the world around us. But we do not just feel our own emotions; we typically express them in the presence of other people. How do our emotional expressions affect others? Moving beyond the traditional intrapersonal perspective, this is the first book dedicated to exploring the pervasive interpersonal dynamics of emotions. Integrating existing theory and research, van Kleef develops the Emotions as Social Information (EASI) theory, a groundbreaking comprehensive framework that explains how emotional expressions influence observers across all domains of life, from close relationships to group settings, conflict and negotiation, customer service, and leader-follower relations. His deeply social perspective sheds new light on the fundamental question of why we have emotions in the first place - the social influence emotions engender may very well constitute their raison d'être.

1. Emotion: an interpersonal perspective
Part I. Emotions as Social Information (EASI) Theory: 2. Emotions as social information
3. Mechanisms involved in the social effects of emotions
4. Contingencies of the social effects of emotions
Part II. Social Effects of Emotions: The Empirical Record: 5. Social effects of emotions in close relationships
6. Social effects of emotions in groups
7. Social effects of emotions in conflict and negotiation
8. Social effects of emotions on consumer behavior and customer service
9. Social effects of emotions in leadership
Part III. Conclusions, Implications, and New Directions: 10. Critical evaluation, theoretical integration, and implications
11. Caveats and future directions.

Subject Areas: Organizational theory & behaviour [KJU], Management: leadership & motivation [KJMB], Psychology: emotions [JMQ], Occupational & industrial psychology [JMJ], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH]