This book introduces affect control theory to lay readers of sociology,
and guides sociology specialists into the theory's deep structure.
Briefly, affect control theory proposes that individuals shape their
social interactions so that emerging impressions reinforce sentiments
about salient identities, behaviors, and settings. Part 1 of the book
provides a plain-language exposition of the theory, along with numerous
interpretive analyses of everyday situations. This is engaging and
provocative reading for anyone interested in social relations. Part 2
presents the mathematical derivations that define sentiment-confirming
behavior, labeling, attribution, and emotion. The mathematical
solutions, conjoined with understandings about social institutions, are
the basis of the theory's explanations. The final section describes the
research program associated with the theory and the computer simulation
software used in research, offering a jump start for individuals wishing
to use affect control theory in their own research.