Large-scale emotional labor in modern times Yuichi Inukai(The professor of Nihon University )
In sociology, there is a term called “emotional labor”.
Since it is “labor” by “emotion”, business is established by providing specific emotions to customers who come in contact with them.
In other words, it is a business that sells “feelings” rather than things. Undertaker is the epitome of emotional labour, offering an admirable emotional stability all year round.
Of course, there are other types of emotional labor. There is a small story often used by comic storytellers, “The difference between pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology.” A pediatrician treats patients in a friendly manner and speaks softly to them, while obstetricians (especially males) suppress their emotions and approach them with a blank expression. If this is reversed, their emotional labor will fail.
Come to think of it, even call center work can sometimes be a harsh emotional labor, and you always have to calmly talk to people who make accusations that don’t make sense. It goes without saying that you should not taunt customers who do not understand you well, and if you get into an argument with a customer, you will be disqualified.
Veteran actors can freely change their “feelings” like they change masks. What emotions do actors feel when they review their own performances afterwards?
When you think about it, being an actor is an amazing job. Hosts and hostesses are equally astonishing jobs, and modern society is actually full of this kind of emotional labor. I am even more amazed by this reality.