Passion wanted! Socialisation of positive emotions in consulting firms. (14th July 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaiser, Stephan; Muller-Seitz, Gordon; Creusen, Utho
• Is Part Of: International journal of work organisation and emotion. Volume 2:Number 3(2008)
• Page Start: 305
• Page End: 320
• Publication Date: 2008-07-14
• Subjects: positive emotions -- socialisation agents -- socialisation phases -- consulting firms -- professional service firms -- emotion -- organisational socialisation; Emotions -- Sociological aspects -- Periodicals; Organizational sociology -- Periodicals; Organizational behavior -- Periodicals; Work -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 302.35
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-8938

Abstract

Earlier works on organisational socialisation concentrated predominantly on cognitive conceptions or negative emotions. Against this background, this paper explores the socialisation of positive emotions in five European consulting firms. We show that positive emotions are socialised in different phases and by different agents, culminating in an expanded zone of emotional indifference by which we mean that reciprocally perceived positive emotions help manifest over time into a stable relationship. Our study adds to the literature by explicitly integrating positive emotions and rather commonly neglected socialisation agents. However, we are critical of perspectives that suggest that management can directly influence positive emotions.