Understanding emotion to enhance learning for individuals, communities, and organizations

Abstract

The emotional lives of organizational actors have been a neglected area in Human Resource Development. This chapter reviews the reasons emotions have been ignored and devalued and argues that it is necessary to pay close attention to emotions as part of the process of learning. Psychological and sociological approaches to understanding emotion and emotional intelligence are discussed, as are gendered expectations at work, and how a critical HRD approach can contest the notion of the ideal worker. Learning is a result of the interplay of both cognitive and emotional abilities. CHRD can challenge and resist socially constructed mandates through learning so that people of all genders can bring their whole selves to work.