Interacción y emociones. La microsociología de Randall Collins y la dimensión emocional de la interacción social

Abstract

Many of the analyses of interaction processes, which are at the center of micro sociological studies, focus on the process itself, on what is being exchanged, on the participation of the interacting parties and on the stages on which interactions occur. In much fewer cases the affective or emotional dimension of the process is considered a central category. One proposal that may contribute to this aspect is Randall Collins', whose theory of chained interaction rituals complicates and broadens the stream of analytical aspects led by Symbolic Interactionism, among others, which have prevailed during decades. This research explores the theory of interaction rituals proposed by Collins, and then establishes some of the basic links between his proposal and the tradition of the sociology of emotions. Lastly, we advance some basic ideas that may help us get to the bottom of what is Collins' contribution to the study and reflection about inter-subjectivity and communication.