Socialization Changes in the Covid 19 Pandemic Era

Socialization among people worldwide has been put to a significant test with the emergence of the covid-19 pandemic. The article authored by Sara Ahmed, which focuses on emotions as an important matter. The article by Hunt, Walby and spencer (2012) analyses the rational approach towards emotions.

Rule Kahil's article also provides an understanding of emotions by looking at its mechanism in the shame emotional reaction in humans. Feelings and happiness have been affected by the pandemic, which has affected the socialization aspect of life and pushing people to embrace a virtual lifestyle.

Articles Summary and Scholar's View of Happiness and Feelings Exchange

The various article has analyzed the concept of happiness s and feelings of exchange from a different perspective. Rule Kahil authored an article dissertation (2017) that focuses on the complexities of shame. It is an article that explores the concept of shame from a human connection perspective. According to the article's point of view, "shame has two faces, this includes controlling and the predictive.

The first negates and undertakes exclusion while the second one is intended to motivate a critical self-reflection concept". Shame is an emotional reaction to a form of prejudice or a disadvantage placed upon an individual. "Emotional learning is the best approach to achieve happiness and deal with shame" (pp. 18). The article authored by Sarah Ahmed provides a critical reflection of how emotions and happiness goes hand in hand and why emotions matter (Hunt, Walby & Spencer, 2012: 41).

Gift Exchange concepts are interrelated; emotions are meant to work, feelings to rule, while the interpersonal exchange functions to make up an individual's private systems of emotions. Gift exchange is classified into two types.

According to Hochschild, the first one is the straight exchange which makes individuals utilize rules for making an inward bow. For the improvisational exchange, it involves presupposing the rules and manipulating them to create irony and a sense of humor" (Hochschild 2010: 76).

Current Social-Political Event

The enactment of public health prevention measures against the covid-19 pandemic is the current social-political issue influencing a change in people's social lives as a result of the pandemic. Many governments have been forced to enact policies that help to promote social distance and isolation measures, among others, to mitigate the pandemic as a result of being forced to interrupt the socialization of society.

Socialization is hence interrupted and affecting the happiness and emotional well-being of people in society. Sharing emotions, finding happiness, and feeling exchange is now being done through digital technology means of communication even though it is not natural.

The above example of a social-political issue aligns with some of the ideologies reflected in Sara Ahmed, Hochschild, and Rule Kahil. Indeed, emotions are quite sociable. With a change in the new digital virtual lifestyle, the opportunity for individuals to easily express their emotions through physical socialization has been reduced.

Hence, our happiness and feelings are affected by the lack of opportunity to socialize with others physically. According to Hochschild, Sara Ahmed (2012), "we are moved by the proximity of others. Sociability can also be seen as a feeling. When you feel sociable, you want to socialize physically and associated with other people" (pp. 42). Sara Ahmed reflects how our sociability influences our social life from happiness and emotional perspective.

The article by Arlie Russell also supports the idea of how we have lost our true nature of emotions, happiness, and feelings as a result of shifting to a virtual lifestyle. By just using gesture, there is a feeling transmitted through gesture exchange addressed in the gift exchange.

Gesture exchange physically shows that feelings are shared among people in the gesture communication process. With a change towards a virtual lifestyle, gestures are now limited scope to exploit. Hence, our emotions from a feelings and happiness perspective are withdrawn from our previous normal social lives. The article by Rula Kahil provides an understanding of emotions from a shame perspective and hence integrated into social life.

Critical Reflection: Personal Opinion

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way of life. Individuals are now embracing a virtual lifestyle in some aspects of their life (Jones, 2021). The aspect of embracing a virtual lifestyle as a new form of socialization has had a negative impact on the social aspect of life.

The changes in socialization lifestyle among people have led to a disadvantage that affects the quality of life. As a result of the social-political challenge of social distance measures to mitigate the spread of the virus, we are getting far away from other people in society. Therefore, it is highly recommended for people to reduce unnecessary traveling and tours as a means of helping society to fight against the pandemic.

Happiness and emotional balance among people are attained when they physically interact with others in society. However, the new approach of embracing a virtual lifestyle is affecting social life and leading to increased cases of loneliness, isolation, and mental health issues.

An advantage of the new virtual lifestyle of communication and socialization through social media platforms is the opportunity to embrace and use digital technology platforms for socialization and connecting with people regardless of the geographic distance.

Conclusion

Socialization is a concept that has been in existence, and its significance being well known for many years and centuries. However, the emergence of a pandemic and its ravaging impact over the past one and half years has tested the stability of socialization.

The physically important social life has been disrupted, and now individuals are shifting to a virtual lifestyle. It is a form of life that affects socialization by bringing along various challenges of mental health issues.

References

Hochschild, A. R. (2010). "The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling." The Production of Reality: Essays and Readings on Social Interaction.

Hunt, A., Walby, K., & Spencer, D. (Eds.). 2012. "Emotions matter: A relational approach to emotions." University of Toronto Press.

Jones, S. (2021). The Impact of COVID-19 on College Students. URL: https://study-aids.co.uk/dissertation-blog/impact-of-covid-19-on-college-students Study Aids Research.

Kahil, R. (2017). "The Complexities of 'Shame': An Exploration of Human Connection" (Doctoral dissertation).