Emotion, Social Action, and Agency: A Case Study of an Intercultural, Technical Communication Intern

Kristin Pickering Tennessee Technological University

Abstract

This article reviews literature on emotions within communication settings and proposes that emotions serve as motivations to accomplish social action; these motivations also serve as opportunities to negotiate agency within unfamiliar workplace settings. To exemplify the way this process develops, the author presents a case study of a technical communication intern as she works full-time for a German sales and distribution company. Through reflective self-narratives, the intern describes specific emotions she experiences as she adjusts to this German workplace. These emotions connect directly to decisions the student makes that help her negotiate agency from a “powerless” position, resulting in effective workplace relationships and a competent persona.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2019-07-03
DOI
10.1080/10572252.2019.1571244
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly

References (68) · 9 in this index

  1. 10.1177/0018726709350372
  2. 10.1111/1467-6486.00305
  3. 10.1037/pspi0000016
  4. 10.1016/S0388-0001(97)00004-1
  5. 10.1177/1080569912461171
Show all 68 →
  1. Handbook of theory and research for the sociology of education
  2. The logic of practice
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. 10.1017/CBO9780511813085
  5. Written Communication
  6. Education and identity
  7. 10.1016/j.emospa.2013.03.008
  8. 10.1177/0021943611414539
  9. Community action and organizational change: Image, narrative, identity
  10. 10.1177/1080569913501861
  11. Power/knowledge: Selected interviews and other writings 1972-1977
  12. Michel Foucault: Beyond structuralism and hermeneutics
  13. Technical Communication Quarterly
  14. Technical Communication Quarterly
  15. The interpretation of culture
  16. The constitution of society: Outline of the theory of structuration
  17. The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research
  18. Working with emotional intelligence
  19. Handbook of qualitative research
  20. 10.1016/j.physio.2015.04.002
  21. 10.1016/j.emospa.2011.10.001
  22. 10.1016/S0742-051X(00)00028-7
  23. 10.2307/3069414
  24. The managed heart: Commercialization of human feeling
  25. 10.1177/0038038509351616
  26. 10.1515/jplr.2005.1.1.73
  27. 10.1177/1080569912458965
  28. 10.1177/0021943608325750
  29. 10.1177/009365001028001001
  30. 10.1177/0021943612474990
  31. 10.1016/j.hrmr.2013.10.001
  32. 10.1016/j.emospa.2015.01.002
  33. 10.1177/0170840606067249
  34. Interviews: An introduction to qualitative research interviewing
  35. 10.1016/j.ijresmar.2007.09.002
  36. 10.1016/j.pragma.2013.05.014
  37. College Composition and Communication
  38. 10.1177/0021943607309351
  39. 10.1177/0021943611425237
  40. 10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.173
  41. 10.1177/1080569908317320
  42. Technical Communication Quarterly
  43. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  44. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  45. 10.1177/0021943611414540
  46. 10.1177/1080569912460400
  47. The coding manual for qualitative researchers
  48. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  49. Critical power tools: Technical communication and cultural studies
  50. 10.1177/1080569912450312
  51. 10.1177/0021943612474989
  52. Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory
  53. 10.1177/0021943609333522
  54. 10.1111/j.1468-2885.2005.tb00331
  55. 10.1177/0893318900141004
  56. 10.1016/j.tate.2010.06.012
  57. 10.1080/03637759709376425
  58. 10.1177/0021943611414686
  59. 10.1016/j.compedu.2006.10.002
  60. 10.1037/0022-3514.33.4.409
  61. 10.2190/CPI
  62. 10.2190/CPI
  63. 10.1016/j.tate.2005.06.005