50 pages • 1 hour read
Arlie Russell HochschildA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
The author differentiates between surface acting and deep acting, referencing key figures like C. Wright Mills, Erving Goffman, and Constantin Stanislavski. Surface acting involves altering outward expressions—such as body language and facial gestures—without changing inner feelings, akin to Goffman’s observations of how people manage their external appearances, like controlled sighs or put-on sneers. Conversely, deep acting, as Stanislavski advocated, requires mentally and emotionally immersing oneself in a scenario to invoke genuine emotions. As an example, the text describes Stanislavski’s experience at a party, where he induced real fear in his expression by imagining a surgical operation.
Transitioning to professional settings, the author examines roles that demand emotional labor, arguing that while deep acting can create authentic interactions, it can also lead to estrangement when employers do not acknowledge the psychological costs. This separation between the self and the role can be especially troubling in environments where emotional labor is significant.
The author then explores the everyday use of deep acting, illustrating how people manage their emotions in various situations. She recounts a young man’s effort to conjure sorrow for a distant friend in a mental hospital by vividly imagining his friend’s plight.
Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
By Arlie Russell Hochschild
Anthropology
View Collection
Books on Justice & Injustice
View Collection
Business & Economics
View Collection
Challenging Authority
View Collection
Class
View Collection
Class
View Collection
Community
View Collection
Education
View Collection
Hate & Anger
View Collection
Philosophy, Logic, & Ethics
View Collection
Power
View Collection
Psychology
View Collection
Safety & Danger
View Collection
Sociology
View Collection
Truth & Lies
View Collection