an article by Bikesh Kumar Singh, Ankur Khare, Abhishek Kumar Soni and Arun Kumar (National Institute of Technology, Raipur, India) published in International Journal of Computational Vision and Robotics Volume 9 Number 6 (2019)
Abstract
The objective of this article is to develop a new improved two stage method for classifying emotional states of human by fusing back-propagation artificial neural network (BPANN) and k-nearest neighbours (k-NN).
A publicly available electroencephalogram (EEG) signal database for emotion analysis using physiological signals is used in experiments. The EEG signals are initially pre-processed followed by feature extraction in time domain and frequency domain.
The extracted features were then supplied to proposed model for emotion recognition.
The proposed machine learning framework attains higher classification accuracy of 78.33 % as compared to conventional BPANN and k-NN classifiers, which achieves classification accuracy of 56.90 % and 59.52 % respectively.
Future work is required to evaluate the proposed model in practical scenario wherein a proficient psychologist or medical professional can analyse the emotion recognised by first stage and the unsure test cases can be supplied to secondary classifier (k-NN) for further assessment.
I am not at all sure that I want a machine measuring my emotions!
Showing posts with label emotion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emotion. Show all posts
Friday, 13 December 2019
Thursday, 17 October 2019
Incivility on Facebook and political polarization: The mediating role of seeking further comments and negative emotion
an article by Yonghwan Kim (Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea) and Youngju Kim (Konkuk University-Glocal campus, South Korea) published in Computers in Human Behavior Volume 99 (October 2019)
Highlights
This study examined whether and how (in)civility and the presence of supporting evidence in disagreeing comments influence individuals' attitude polarization.
The study used a 2 (civility vs. incivility) × 2 (evidence vs. no evidence) factorial design involving reading dissimilar viewpoints in Facebook comments. The results showed that exposure to uncivil opposing comments, compared to exposure to civil disagreeing comments, led to lower levels of willingness to read more comments and greater levels of negative emotions and attitude polarization.
However, the presence or absence of supporting evidence in comments did not have any significant effect on the outcome variables.
The findings suggest that it is the civility or incivility of information that influences whether exposure to dissimilar perspectives either mitigates or reinforces individuals’ attitude polarization.
This study also suggested willingness to read more comments and negative emotions as two mediating factors between exposure to uncivil/civil disagreeing comments and attitude polarization.
Highlights
- Exposure to uncivil disagreeing comments reduces one's willingness to read more comments.
- Exposure to uncivil disagreeing comments induces negative emotions. .
- Willingness to read more comments mediates the effect of uncivil disagreeing comments on attitude polarization.
- Negative emotion mediates the effect of uncivil disagreeing comments on attitude polarization.
This study examined whether and how (in)civility and the presence of supporting evidence in disagreeing comments influence individuals' attitude polarization.
The study used a 2 (civility vs. incivility) × 2 (evidence vs. no evidence) factorial design involving reading dissimilar viewpoints in Facebook comments. The results showed that exposure to uncivil opposing comments, compared to exposure to civil disagreeing comments, led to lower levels of willingness to read more comments and greater levels of negative emotions and attitude polarization.
However, the presence or absence of supporting evidence in comments did not have any significant effect on the outcome variables.
The findings suggest that it is the civility or incivility of information that influences whether exposure to dissimilar perspectives either mitigates or reinforces individuals’ attitude polarization.
This study also suggested willingness to read more comments and negative emotions as two mediating factors between exposure to uncivil/civil disagreeing comments and attitude polarization.
Saturday, 12 October 2019
Emotional Compliance and Emotion as Resistance: Shame and Anger among the Long-Term Unemployed
an article by Michelle Peterie and Greg Marston (University of Queensland, Australia), Gaby Ramia (University of Sydney, Australia) and Roger Patulny (University of Wollongong, Australia) published in Work, Employment and Society Volume 33 Issue 5 (October 2019)
Abstract
Contemporary governments employ a range of policy tools to ‘activate’ the unemployed to look for work.
Framing unemployment as a consequence of personal shortcoming, these policies incentivise the unemployed to become ‘productive’ members of society. While Foucault’s governmentality framework has been used to foreground the operation of power within these policies, ‘job-seeker’ resistance has received less attention. In particular, forms of emotional resistance have rarely been studied.
Drawing on in-depth interviews with 80 unemployed welfare recipients in Australia, this article shows that many unemployed people internalise activation’s discourses of personal failure, experiencing shame and worthlessness as a result.
It also reveals, however, that a significant minority reject this framing and the ‘feeling rules’ it implies, expressing not shame but anger regarding their circumstances. Bringing together insights from resistance studies and the sociology of emotions, this article argues that ‘job-seeker’ anger should be recognised as an important form of ‘everyday resistance’.
Abstract
Contemporary governments employ a range of policy tools to ‘activate’ the unemployed to look for work.
Framing unemployment as a consequence of personal shortcoming, these policies incentivise the unemployed to become ‘productive’ members of society. While Foucault’s governmentality framework has been used to foreground the operation of power within these policies, ‘job-seeker’ resistance has received less attention. In particular, forms of emotional resistance have rarely been studied.
Drawing on in-depth interviews with 80 unemployed welfare recipients in Australia, this article shows that many unemployed people internalise activation’s discourses of personal failure, experiencing shame and worthlessness as a result.
It also reveals, however, that a significant minority reject this framing and the ‘feeling rules’ it implies, expressing not shame but anger regarding their circumstances. Bringing together insights from resistance studies and the sociology of emotions, this article argues that ‘job-seeker’ anger should be recognised as an important form of ‘everyday resistance’.
Wednesday, 13 March 2019
The Psychology of Money: What You Need To Know To Have A (Relatively) Fearless Financial Life
an article by Prudy Gourguechon in Forbes [brought to us by World of Psychology’s “Around the Net”]
No one is entirely rational when it comes to money. We don’t create and follow a budget or save something every paycheck though we believe it would be in our best interest. We know we need a financial plan but put off the work involved; somehow it never happens. We spend too much out of recklessness or exuberance, or too little out of guilt. Our money behavior often causes shame.
It’s worth thinking about money as something with which you have a complex relationship. Your money (and more broadly your personal finances) is not a fixed entity, but rather a complex of data points, challenges and opportunities you circle around, interact with and have feelings about. You make decisions about money that impact your financial situation and these impacts in turn reciprocally affect your feelings and future behaviors. And it’s a relationship that evolves over a lifetime.
Here are three key things to know about the psychology behind our personal relationships with money:
Continue reading
No one is entirely rational when it comes to money. We don’t create and follow a budget or save something every paycheck though we believe it would be in our best interest. We know we need a financial plan but put off the work involved; somehow it never happens. We spend too much out of recklessness or exuberance, or too little out of guilt. Our money behavior often causes shame.
It’s worth thinking about money as something with which you have a complex relationship. Your money (and more broadly your personal finances) is not a fixed entity, but rather a complex of data points, challenges and opportunities you circle around, interact with and have feelings about. You make decisions about money that impact your financial situation and these impacts in turn reciprocally affect your feelings and future behaviors. And it’s a relationship that evolves over a lifetime.
Here are three key things to know about the psychology behind our personal relationships with money:
- Emotion plays a huge role.
- Anxiety and avoidance create a vicious cycle.
- Psychologically, you can’t entirely escape your family and your past.
Continue reading
Tuesday, 13 March 2018
How to Cope with Anger and Pain
a post by Suzanne Kane for the World of Psychology blog
“Where there is anger, there is always pain underneath.” – Eckhart Tolle
Most of us have experienced our fair share of anger and pain, some more so than others.
But did you ever stop to think what’s underneath all that anger? What is the root cause?
In many cases, it might be difficult to discern or pinpoint the origin of the emotion or identify the exact cause. All you know is that you feel like exploding, things are just not going right, and you can’t seem to get past it.
Sometimes that means you lash out verbally or behave in unhealthy ways, such as drinking too much, compulsive overeating, engaging in promiscuous or risky sexual behavior. At the extreme, you might even cause harm to yourself or others, emotionally and perhaps even physically.
Before your anger gets totally out of hand, however, a little self-reflection and some healthy coping measures may save the day.
Continue reading
“Where there is anger, there is always pain underneath.” – Eckhart Tolle
Most of us have experienced our fair share of anger and pain, some more so than others.
But did you ever stop to think what’s underneath all that anger? What is the root cause?
In many cases, it might be difficult to discern or pinpoint the origin of the emotion or identify the exact cause. All you know is that you feel like exploding, things are just not going right, and you can’t seem to get past it.
Sometimes that means you lash out verbally or behave in unhealthy ways, such as drinking too much, compulsive overeating, engaging in promiscuous or risky sexual behavior. At the extreme, you might even cause harm to yourself or others, emotionally and perhaps even physically.
Before your anger gets totally out of hand, however, a little self-reflection and some healthy coping measures may save the day.
Continue reading
Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Developing 14 animated characters for non-verbal self-report of categorical emotions
an article by Gaël Laurans and Pieter M.A. Desmet (Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands) published in Journal of Design Research Volume 15 Number 3/4 (2018)
Abstract
Graphical self-report tools are increasingly used to collect data on users’ emotional responses to products, yet most of these tools have only undergone minimal validation.
A systematic set of animations was developed to allow participants in design research and other fields to report their feelings without relying on the nuances of a particular language’s affective lexicon. The animations were revised based on eight studies across four countries (total N = 826).
The set includes well-recognised animations representing desire/love, satisfaction/approval, pride/self-esteem, hope/optimism, interest/curiosity, surprise/excitement, disgust/aversion, embarrassment/shyness, fear/shock and boredom/dullness.
Two other emotions (joy/happiness and contempt/disrespect) were recognised by about half of the participants in the final study.
Abstract
Graphical self-report tools are increasingly used to collect data on users’ emotional responses to products, yet most of these tools have only undergone minimal validation.
A systematic set of animations was developed to allow participants in design research and other fields to report their feelings without relying on the nuances of a particular language’s affective lexicon. The animations were revised based on eight studies across four countries (total N = 826).
The set includes well-recognised animations representing desire/love, satisfaction/approval, pride/self-esteem, hope/optimism, interest/curiosity, surprise/excitement, disgust/aversion, embarrassment/shyness, fear/shock and boredom/dullness.
Two other emotions (joy/happiness and contempt/disrespect) were recognised by about half of the participants in the final study.
Wednesday, 3 January 2018
An emotional step toward automated trust detection in crisis social media
an article by Shane E. Halse, Andria Tapia and Anna Squicciarini (Pennsylvania State University, State College, USA) and Cornelia Caragea (University of North Texas, Denton, USA) published in Information, Communication & Society Volume 21 Issue 2
Abstract
To this date, research on crisis informatics has focused on the detection of trust in Twitter data through the use of message structure, sentiment, propagation and author. Little research has examined the usefulness of these messages in the crisis response domain.
In this paper, we characterize tweets, which are perceived useful or trustworthy, and determine their main features as one possible dimension to identify useful messages in case of crisis.
In addition, we examine perceived emotions of these messages and how the different emotions affect the perceived usefulness and trustworthiness.
Our analysis is carried out on two datasets gathered from Twitter concerning Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the Boston Bombings in 2013. The results indicate that there is a high correlation between trustworthiness and usefulness, and, interestingly, that there is a significant difference in the perceived emotions that contribute to each of these.
Our findings are poised to impact how messages from social media data are analyzed for use in crisis response.
Reading the title of this piece I was prepared for personal crisis such as severe distress but it is interesting to note the impact of Tweets on environmental and terrorist crises. H.
Abstract
To this date, research on crisis informatics has focused on the detection of trust in Twitter data through the use of message structure, sentiment, propagation and author. Little research has examined the usefulness of these messages in the crisis response domain.
In this paper, we characterize tweets, which are perceived useful or trustworthy, and determine their main features as one possible dimension to identify useful messages in case of crisis.
In addition, we examine perceived emotions of these messages and how the different emotions affect the perceived usefulness and trustworthiness.
Our analysis is carried out on two datasets gathered from Twitter concerning Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the Boston Bombings in 2013. The results indicate that there is a high correlation between trustworthiness and usefulness, and, interestingly, that there is a significant difference in the perceived emotions that contribute to each of these.
Our findings are poised to impact how messages from social media data are analyzed for use in crisis response.
Reading the title of this piece I was prepared for personal crisis such as severe distress but it is interesting to note the impact of Tweets on environmental and terrorist crises. H.
Sunday, 31 December 2017
Why Your Brain Hates Other People: And how to make it think differently
an article by Robert Sapolsky published in Nautilus [via 3 Quarks Daily]
As a kid, I saw the 1968 version of Planet of the Apes. As a future primatologist, I was mesmerized. Years later I discovered an anecdote about its filming: At lunchtime, the people playing chimps and those playing gorillas ate in separate groups.
It’s been said, “There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world into two kinds of people and those who don’t.” In reality, there’s lots more of the former. And it can be vastly consequential when people are divided into Us and Them, ingroup and outgroup, “the people” (i.e. our kind) and the Others.
Humans universally make Us/Them dichotomies along lines of race, ethnicity, gender, language group, religion, age, socioeconomic status, and so on. And it’s not a pretty picture. We do so with remarkable speed and neurobiological efficiency; have complex taxonomies and classifications of ways in which we denigrate Thems; do so with a versatility that ranges from the minutest of microaggression to bloodbaths of savagery; and regularly decide what is inferior about Them based on pure emotion, followed by primitive rationalizations that we mistake for rationality. Pretty depressing.
But crucially, there is room for optimism. Much of that is grounded in something definedly human, which is that we all carry multiple Us/Them divisions in our heads. A Them in one case can be an Us in another, and it can only take an instant for that identity to flip. Thus, there is hope that, with science’s help, clannishness and xenophobia can lessen, perhaps even so much so that Hollywood-extra chimps and gorillas can break bread together.
Continue reading
As a kid, I saw the 1968 version of Planet of the Apes. As a future primatologist, I was mesmerized. Years later I discovered an anecdote about its filming: At lunchtime, the people playing chimps and those playing gorillas ate in separate groups.
It’s been said, “There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world into two kinds of people and those who don’t.” In reality, there’s lots more of the former. And it can be vastly consequential when people are divided into Us and Them, ingroup and outgroup, “the people” (i.e. our kind) and the Others.
Humans universally make Us/Them dichotomies along lines of race, ethnicity, gender, language group, religion, age, socioeconomic status, and so on. And it’s not a pretty picture. We do so with remarkable speed and neurobiological efficiency; have complex taxonomies and classifications of ways in which we denigrate Thems; do so with a versatility that ranges from the minutest of microaggression to bloodbaths of savagery; and regularly decide what is inferior about Them based on pure emotion, followed by primitive rationalizations that we mistake for rationality. Pretty depressing.
But crucially, there is room for optimism. Much of that is grounded in something definedly human, which is that we all carry multiple Us/Them divisions in our heads. A Them in one case can be an Us in another, and it can only take an instant for that identity to flip. Thus, there is hope that, with science’s help, clannishness and xenophobia can lessen, perhaps even so much so that Hollywood-extra chimps and gorillas can break bread together.
Continue reading
Wednesday, 25 October 2017
How do you feel about your friends? Understanding situational envy in online social networks
an article by Linda Wallace and Tabitha L.James (Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA) and Merrill Warkentin (Mississippi State University, MS, USA) published in Information & Management Volume 54 Issue 5 (July 2017)
Abstract
Online social networks (OSNs) offer a stream of information that readily provides comparison opportunities, often resulting in feelings of envy.
Two factors that drive OSN-situational envy (OSN-SE) are a user’s personality and needs.
Leveraging the five-factor model of personality and uses and gratifications theory, we explore how personality traits and OSN use affect OSN-SE.
Data from 625 survey responses indicate that Facebook users experience greater OSN-SE when they exhibit neuroticism and use Facebook to gratify needs to gather information, seek attention, or pass time, suggesting that envy-prone users should use OSN for specific purposes and avoid passive pursuits.
Abstract
Online social networks (OSNs) offer a stream of information that readily provides comparison opportunities, often resulting in feelings of envy.
Two factors that drive OSN-situational envy (OSN-SE) are a user’s personality and needs.
Leveraging the five-factor model of personality and uses and gratifications theory, we explore how personality traits and OSN use affect OSN-SE.
Data from 625 survey responses indicate that Facebook users experience greater OSN-SE when they exhibit neuroticism and use Facebook to gratify needs to gather information, seek attention, or pass time, suggesting that envy-prone users should use OSN for specific purposes and avoid passive pursuits.
Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Cybervictims’ emotional responses, attributions, and coping strategies for cyber victimization: a qualitative approach
an article by Michelle F. Wright (Department of Psychology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic) published in Safer Communities Volume 15 Issue 3 (2016)
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand cybervictims’ attributions, emotional responses, and coping strategies for cyberbullying incidents that they actually experienced.
Design/methodology/approach
There were 76 cybervictims (51 percent girls) between the ages of 12 and 14 included in this study. Adolescents participated in one-on-one interviews to provide comprehensive information about their attributions, emotional responses, and coping strategies for their actual experiences of cyberbullying.
Findings
Findings from the study revealed that cybervictims felt insecure and paranoid after experiencing cyber victimization. Cybervictims attributed to their experience of cyberbullying to drama or a fight between themselves and the perpetrators as well as being targeted by an ex-significant other or ex-friend seeking revenge against them for relationship dissolution. They also used adaptive (e.g. social support) and maladaptive (e.g. revenge) coping strategies to deal with cyber victimization, sometimes utilizing a combination of these strategies.
Originality/value
The findings of this study could help with the design of intervention and prevention programs designed to reduce or prevent the negative effects of cyberbullying.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand cybervictims’ attributions, emotional responses, and coping strategies for cyberbullying incidents that they actually experienced.
Design/methodology/approach
There were 76 cybervictims (51 percent girls) between the ages of 12 and 14 included in this study. Adolescents participated in one-on-one interviews to provide comprehensive information about their attributions, emotional responses, and coping strategies for their actual experiences of cyberbullying.
Findings
Findings from the study revealed that cybervictims felt insecure and paranoid after experiencing cyber victimization. Cybervictims attributed to their experience of cyberbullying to drama or a fight between themselves and the perpetrators as well as being targeted by an ex-significant other or ex-friend seeking revenge against them for relationship dissolution. They also used adaptive (e.g. social support) and maladaptive (e.g. revenge) coping strategies to deal with cyber victimization, sometimes utilizing a combination of these strategies.
Originality/value
The findings of this study could help with the design of intervention and prevention programs designed to reduce or prevent the negative effects of cyberbullying.
Tuesday, 11 August 2015
Facilitating Emotional Awareness in a Career Counseling Context
an article by Keith A. Puffer (Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN, USA) published in Journal of Career Assessment Volume 23 Number 2 (May 2015)
Abstract
Significant research on emotion and career development has transpired in the past few decades. Regrettably, certain aspects of emotional functioning germane to the career decision-making process remain ambiguous. Specifically, kinds and frequency of affective reactions to career options along with helpful ways to assimilate this emotional information in the counseling experience are unclarified.
In contrast, this study operationalized an intervention designed to facilitate emotional awareness and tested it with a sample of 451 undergraduates exploring career information.
Using a descriptive research design, a frequency distribution of 40,207 affective responses revealed six noticeable recurring emotions resulted from participants’ reflections on career possibilities. This pattern, consistent over a 3-year interval, comprised the majority (59%) of total elicited affect.
Moreover, a statistically significant higher percentage of positive emotional responses emerged with college students’ self-assigned occupations relative to computer-generated careers. Practical applications of the affective information for career counseling purposes are also discussed.
Abstract
Significant research on emotion and career development has transpired in the past few decades. Regrettably, certain aspects of emotional functioning germane to the career decision-making process remain ambiguous. Specifically, kinds and frequency of affective reactions to career options along with helpful ways to assimilate this emotional information in the counseling experience are unclarified.
In contrast, this study operationalized an intervention designed to facilitate emotional awareness and tested it with a sample of 451 undergraduates exploring career information.
Using a descriptive research design, a frequency distribution of 40,207 affective responses revealed six noticeable recurring emotions resulted from participants’ reflections on career possibilities. This pattern, consistent over a 3-year interval, comprised the majority (59%) of total elicited affect.
Moreover, a statistically significant higher percentage of positive emotional responses emerged with college students’ self-assigned occupations relative to computer-generated careers. Practical applications of the affective information for career counseling purposes are also discussed.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Is beautiful really usable? Toward understanding the relation between usability, aesthetics, and affect in HCI
an article by Alexandre N. Tuch, Sandra P. Roth, Klaus Opwis and Javier A. Bargas-Avila (University of Basel, Switzerland) and Kasper Hornbæk (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) published in Computers in Human Behavior Volume 28 Issue 5 (September 2012)
Abstract
This paper analyzes the relation between usability and aesthetics.
In a laboratory study, 80 participants used one of four different versions of the same online shop, differing in interface-aesthetics (low vs. high) and interface-usability (low vs. high).
Participants had to find specific items and rate the shop before and after usage on perceived aesthetics and perceived usability, which were assessed using four validated instruments.
Results show that aesthetics does not affect perceived usability. In contrast, usability has an effect on post-use perceived aesthetics.
Our findings show that the “what is beautiful is usable” notion, which assumes that aesthetics enhances the perception of usability, can be reversed under certain conditions (here: strong usability manipulation combined with a medium to large aesthetics manipulation).
Furthermore, our results indicate that the user’s affective experience with the usability of the shop might serve as a mediator variable within the aesthetics–usability relation: The frustration of poor usability lowers ratings on perceived aesthetics.
The significance of the results is discussed in context of the existing research on the relation between aesthetics and usability.
Highlights
► This study analyzes the relation between usability and aesthetics within websites.
► Results show that good usability enhances the perception of classical aesthetics.
► The effect of usability on aesthetics is mediated by user’s affective response.
► The frustration of poor usability lowers ratings on perceived aesthetics.
► Usability is manipulated via information architecture without changing page layout.
Abstract
This paper analyzes the relation between usability and aesthetics.
In a laboratory study, 80 participants used one of four different versions of the same online shop, differing in interface-aesthetics (low vs. high) and interface-usability (low vs. high).
Participants had to find specific items and rate the shop before and after usage on perceived aesthetics and perceived usability, which were assessed using four validated instruments.
Results show that aesthetics does not affect perceived usability. In contrast, usability has an effect on post-use perceived aesthetics.
Our findings show that the “what is beautiful is usable” notion, which assumes that aesthetics enhances the perception of usability, can be reversed under certain conditions (here: strong usability manipulation combined with a medium to large aesthetics manipulation).
Furthermore, our results indicate that the user’s affective experience with the usability of the shop might serve as a mediator variable within the aesthetics–usability relation: The frustration of poor usability lowers ratings on perceived aesthetics.
The significance of the results is discussed in context of the existing research on the relation between aesthetics and usability.
Highlights
► This study analyzes the relation between usability and aesthetics within websites.
► Results show that good usability enhances the perception of classical aesthetics.
► The effect of usability on aesthetics is mediated by user’s affective response.
► The frustration of poor usability lowers ratings on perceived aesthetics.
► Usability is manipulated via information architecture without changing page layout.
Friday, 22 June 2012
Not learning in the workplace: austerity and the shattering of illusion in public service
an article by Helen Colley, (School of Education and Professional Development, University of Huddersfield) published in Journal of Workplace Learning Volume 24 Issue 5 (2012)
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to discuss the impact of UK government austerity policies on learning in public service work, specifically youth support work. It also aims to argue that austerity policies intensify “ethics work”, create emotional suffering, and obstruct workplace learning in a variety of ways.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopts narrative methods and a critical interpretive paradigm to investigate practitioner perceptions within a broader analysis of neo-liberal change. It draws on Bourdieu’s sociology as an interpretive framework.
Findings
Austerity is shifting the “stakes” of the youth support field from a client-centred ethos to the meeting of economically-driven targets. This shatters the illusio of practitioners committed to client-centred ethics, resulting in emotional suffering, difficulty in learning to cope with new demands, and an erosion of professional capacity.
Research limitations and implications
A particular limitation is the lack of longitudinal data. There is a pressing need for more research on ethics work, emotional suffering and (not) learning in public service workplaces facing austerity, and to continue theorising this nexus more thoroughly.
Practical and social implications
There is a need to promote a feminist ethics of care in such workplaces. There is also a need to stimulate public debate about the ethical impact of austerity on public service work as a whole. These might allow workplaces to encourage learning more effectively.
Originality/value
This paper departs from traditional discussions of workplace learning to consider instances of “not learning”. It introduces the innovative concept of “ethics work”, discusses ethics as a form of work, through a sociological rather than philosophical lens, and utilises Bourdieu’s key concept of illusio, not previously addressed in workplace learning research.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to discuss the impact of UK government austerity policies on learning in public service work, specifically youth support work. It also aims to argue that austerity policies intensify “ethics work”, create emotional suffering, and obstruct workplace learning in a variety of ways.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopts narrative methods and a critical interpretive paradigm to investigate practitioner perceptions within a broader analysis of neo-liberal change. It draws on Bourdieu’s sociology as an interpretive framework.
Findings
Austerity is shifting the “stakes” of the youth support field from a client-centred ethos to the meeting of economically-driven targets. This shatters the illusio of practitioners committed to client-centred ethics, resulting in emotional suffering, difficulty in learning to cope with new demands, and an erosion of professional capacity.
Research limitations and implications
A particular limitation is the lack of longitudinal data. There is a pressing need for more research on ethics work, emotional suffering and (not) learning in public service workplaces facing austerity, and to continue theorising this nexus more thoroughly.
Practical and social implications
There is a need to promote a feminist ethics of care in such workplaces. There is also a need to stimulate public debate about the ethical impact of austerity on public service work as a whole. These might allow workplaces to encourage learning more effectively.
Originality/value
This paper departs from traditional discussions of workplace learning to consider instances of “not learning”. It introduces the innovative concept of “ethics work”, discusses ethics as a form of work, through a sociological rather than philosophical lens, and utilises Bourdieu’s key concept of illusio, not previously addressed in workplace learning research.
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