Portuguese philosopher Madalena D'Oliveira-Martins has defended her doctoral thesis , 'Social reflexivity and sociology of emotions. Analysis of modernity in Arlie R. Hochschild'. The research has been carried out in the framework of the project 'Emotional culture and identity' of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra, financed by Zurich Insurance, and has been directed by Lourdes Flamarique, collaborator of the ICS and professor of the School of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Navarra.

The new doctor has studied the concept of social reflexivity and the sociology of emotions of Arlie Russell Hochschild, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of California (Berkeley) and considered the founder of the sociology of emotions.

Hochschild's theory addresses some of the most notorious phenomena of contemporary societies. These include the social role of women and the new feminine codes; the balance between family and work; the shifting boundaries between the public and the private; and the new emotional demands in the service and care work environments.

The interest of emotions

In the context of her research, Madalena D'Oliveira-Martins stated that "from the prism of emotions we discover elements and phenomena characteristic of contemporary societies that were ignored, or barely addressed in other theoretical approaches" and, therefore, "allow a better understanding of social action".

He also concluded that "the renewed interest in the emotional dimension, both for sociological analysis and for individuals themselves, is both a symptom and a consequence of the reflexive dynamism of today's societies.

To better understand the interest aroused by the emotional dimension, the young researcher has delved into the process of maturation of reflexivity that has been developing since the early twentieth century in the theories of Weber, Simmel, Cooley, Mead, Blumer and Goffman.

            As part of her research, Madalena D'Oliveira-Martins carried out in 2014 a six-month stay at the department of Sociology at the University of Berkeley, together with Professor Hochschild.