Abstract
Betrayal often hits the very foundations of socials bonds: the loyalty of the “We” that we have assumed and taken for granted is broken. This chapter will begin with a discussion of the meaning of betrayal where it is argued that betrayal is a breach of trust, when information is shared, or actions initiated beyond an agreed upon boundary of relations.
The image of betrayal is associated with morally and legally exceptional cases, with harsh punishment and moral outrage when discovered. But the sociology of treachery does not only include spies or collaboration during war, but the breach of loyalty may include a pair of friends, colleagues, and romantic partners. Violations of loyalty may involve lesser everyday behaviour but also unfaithfulness, taking important but different sides in worklife conflicts: illustrations of more dramatic situations.
Taking as a point of departure Simmers work on secrets and secrecy as well as his “formal sociology”, where different content may still be seen as having similar sociological form, Akerstrom discusses categories of betrayal, as well as the emotionally charged accusations involving a cultural stigma on the betrayer, inviting political motivated accusations. Furthermore, changes in who is seen as a traitor, the possible reinterpretation, will be discussed. Finally, the conditions that influence its emotional intensity in betrayal relationships will be analysed.
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The image of betrayal is associated with morally and legally exceptional cases, with harsh punishment and moral outrage when discovered. But the sociology of treachery does not only include spies or collaboration during war, but the breach of loyalty may include a pair of friends, colleagues, and romantic partners. Violations of loyalty may involve lesser everyday behaviour but also unfaithfulness, taking important but different sides in worklife conflicts: illustrations of more dramatic situations.
Taking as a point of departure Simmers work on secrets and secrecy as well as his “formal sociology”, where different content may still be seen as having similar sociological form, Akerstrom discusses categories of betrayal, as well as the emotionally charged accusations involving a cultural stigma on the betrayer, inviting political motivated accusations. Furthermore, changes in who is seen as a traitor, the possible reinterpretation, will be discussed. Finally, the conditions that influence its emotional intensity in betrayal relationships will be analysed.
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| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Dark Emotions |
| Subtitle of host publication | Difficult Emotional Experiences in Social and Everyday Life |
| Editors | Michel Hviid Jacobseb |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Chapter | 7 |
| Pages | 118-133 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-1032583754 |
| ISBN (Print) | 1032583754 |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 Jul 22 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)