Emotions in Court

Description

Previous research has shown that emotion and reason are not dichotomies; on the contrary, both are important components for rational action. Nevertheless, most research on emotions has focused on emotional labour in service and nursing. There is relatively little research on emotion in bureaucratic organizations. The democratic judicial system is one such organization where impartiality and objectivity are guiding principles implying a-emotionality. The purpose of the project is to investigate emotions and how emotions are dealt with in Swedish court procedures. Which roles do emotions have during court procedures and in the intervening day-to-day interactions between the professional actors involved?

Within this project we initiated international collaboration with Professor Sharyn Roach Anleu and Professor Kathy Mack at Flinders University, Australia and have so far co-authored two methodological articles (see publications).