The history of emotions: an introduction

Abstract

- The first book-length introduction to one of the fastest-growing fields of historical discipline - Offers a synthesis of the work already carried out in the field and an agenda for the direction of future study - Provides a multidisciplinary approach, engaging with anthropology, philosophy, sociology, linguistics, art history, political science, psychology, and the latest affective neuroscience - Shows how genuine collaboration between history and neuroscience might be possible and thus moves beyond the binary debate between social constructionism and universalism The history of emotions is one of the fastest growing fields in current historical debate, and this is the first book-length introduction to the field, synthesizing the current research, and offering direction for future study. The History of Emotions is organized around the debate between social constructivist and universalist theories of emotion that has shaped most emotions research in a variety of disciplines for more than a hundred years: social constructivists believe that emotions are largely learned and subject to historical change, while universalists insist on the timelessness and pan-culturalism of emotions. In historicizing and problematizing this binary, Jan Plamper opens emotions research beyond constructivism and universalism; he also maps a vast terrain of thought about feelings in anthropology, philosophy, sociology, linguistics, art history, political science, the life sciences - from nineteenth-century experimental psychology to the latest affective neuroscience - and history, from ancient times to the present day. Readership: Students and scholars with an interest in the history of emotion within the broader areas of history, anthropology, philosophy, sociology, linguistics, art history, political science, and the life sciences