Two things are attempted in this book. First, key aspects of social structure are examined through the development and application of emotions categories. Thus rationality, class structure, social action, social conformity, basic rights, and social change are considered through discussion of a particular emotion or set of emotions which both characteristically pertains to each of them and elucidates the processes to which each is subject. Second, the development and application of emotions categories to the analysis of social-structural components are used in the refinement and elaboration of sociological theory.

The dual interests of understanding social structure and enriching sociological theory have always been central in sociology. Less frequently have endeavors to achieve these aims been attempted through a focus on emotion. Emotion is not readily thought of as a category which either belongs in or has anything important to offer sociology. Nevertheless, the following chapters will show that emotions terms can be developed in and applied to the analysis of social structure. They will also show that theorizing which offers a central place to emotions categories risks nothing of its sociological character.

But any conclusions which are drawn from these chapters must be made in light of their intentions, and therefore of the limits on what they attempt to achieve. While it is not an author's place to prime the critics, although all authors do that unintentionally and inadvertently, I do want to indicate some of the things not attempted in this book.