Group Emotions

Many of the strongest emotions that people experience are related to events that affect social groups. Soccer fans throughout a country pour into the streets to celebrate when their national team advances in World Cup competition. Company employees exchange congratulatory hugs when their firm wins an important new contract. On the negative side, people experience irritation or anger when they encounter those they perceive as illegal immigrants to their country. And, in all too many cases, extreme rage, fear, and hatred directed at an outgroup (a group to which the perceiver does not belong) are driving forces behind pogroms, policies of “ethnic cleansing,” and even genocide.

Following a brief historical overview of the study of emotions and their relationship to group memberships, this entry will discuss ...