Affect control theory: a formal theory of identity, action and emotion
We generally know what to expect when interacting with different types of people, but sometimes we are surprised. Affect control theory is a formal, mathematical theory that explains how people deal with a world that is usually predictable, but sometimes goes awry. It predicts behavior and emotions in normal circumstances. It also predicts how people respond when things get weird and something unusual happens. Because the theory measures everything-identity labels for types of people, behaviors that happen between them, and personal characteristics like moods, emotions and other more stable traits-on the same three dimensions, it can use equations to describe how interpersonal events change impressions of people. The mathematical model can then predict how people will create, respond to, and re-label events to try to maintain their sense of a stable, sensible social world. There is a simulation program that lets you apply this model without the mathematical work.
