Emotion in Organizations: Theory and Research

Area of Science:

• Organizational Behavior
• Psychology
• Social Science

Background:

• Workplace emotions significantly influence employee experiences and organizational dynamics.
• Existing research on organizational emotions is disparate, necessitating integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and integrate the scientific field of emotion in organizations.
• To organize research around a sequential model of emotion: interpretation, experience, and expression.

Main Methods:

• Literature review integrating classic theories and recent advances in organizational emotion research.
• Organizing the review around a process model of emotion unfolding over time.

Main Results:

• Emotion is conceptualized as a sequence: subjective interpretation leads to emotional experience, impacting behavior, attitudes, and cognition.
• Emotional experiences generate expressive cues, can be regulated, and may spread through workgroups and organizations.
• Emotional intelligence encompasses effectiveness across all stages of the emotion process.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of workplace emotions requires understanding the entire emotion sequence.
• Future research should explore cultural and gender differences in organizational emotions.
• Practical implications include enhancing emotional intelligence and fostering positive emotional climates.