Humans are the most emotional animals on earth. Almost every aspect of human cognition, behavior, and social organization is driven by emotions. Emotions are the force behind social commitments to others in face-to-face interactions and groups. But they are much more; they are also the driving force responsible for the formation of social structures, and conversely, they are fuel driving collective actions that tear down social structures and transform cultures. Because emotions are so central to human affairs, it should be possible to develop a general theory explaining why particular emotions are aroused in individuals and groups of individuals, with particular attention to the consequences of emotions for social relations and larger sociocultural patterns in societies. As a general theory diverse manifestations of emotions can be explained; emotions drive, for example, the friendships that people develop with each other, the commitments they make to social structures, or the acts of terrorism that are designed to strike collective fear. There is a common set of forces that can be theorized and, hence, that can explain all dimensions of emotions in human affairs. The goal of Human Emotions is to begin the process of developing a general theory that can be tested with data from diverse sources, ranging from the experimental laboratory through case studies in natural settings to historical accounts of how emotions affect key historical events. This book is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students researching sociology of emotions, social psychology, and contemporary social theory and is also relevant for students and researchers working in the fields of psychology and cultural studies. -- from back cover.