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Studying and teaching the sociology of emotions: an interview with Scott R. Harris
Scott R. Harris is an American sociologist and professor at Saint Louis University. His research examines social constructions of equality and inequality, emotions, family diversity, and celebrity social interactions, often through the lens of symbolic interactionism. He has published eight books so far (as author, co-author, or editor), among them The Meanings of Marital Equality (2006) and Stargazing: Celebrity, Fame, and Social Interaction (co-authored with Kerry Ferris, 2011). Harris also served as editor-in-chief of the journals Symbolic Interaction and Sociology Compass. Harris’s contributions to the sociology of emotions include An Invitation to the Sociology of Emotions (2nd edn, 2024) and Sociology Through Emotions: A Concise Reader (2025), as well as articles in the journals Symbolic Interaction and Human Studies. This interview covers why sociologists should study emotions, the integration of psychology, challenges in defining emotions, the importance of emotional identification, studying emotions in digital contexts, therapeutic uses by students, and other issues. The interview was conducted via Zoom and email, allowing for detailed and corrected responses.