I'm planning a research programme on work stress which takes account of
recent theoretical developments in the sociology of emotions and
embodiment, particularly the way in which social experiences become written
on the body, for instance, in patterns of neurohormonal reactivity which
may eventually lead to ill health. And the way in which embodiment
influences self-identity, resilience, behaviour. I've read a lot of the
theoretical stuff on embodiment - Peter Freund etc. and have also found
Hochschild's work on emotion management useful. However, although this has
deepened my understanding of the work stress phenomenon I'm finding it
difficult to operationalise the 'embodied' perspective in a way which can
be used in an empirical study. Nettleton & Watson's The Body in Everyday
Life, refers to several empirical studies which refer to embodiment, but
there still seems to be a big gap between the theoretical and empirical
research.
My feeling is that research of this kind requires a methodology that adopts
a life course perspective and integrates qualitative research methods with
bio-medical/physiological tests, but I'm not sure how this can be done in
practice. Does anyone have any insights, experiences, references that
might help resolve this difficulty? Oh, and before anyone accuses me, this
is NOT socio-biology!
Dr David Wainwright
MRC Health Services Research Collaboration
Department of Social Medicine
University of Bristol
Canynge Hall
Whiteladies Road
Bristol
BS8 2PR
Tel. 0117 928 7264
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