TY - CHAP

T1 - Courage, Risks and Dating in the COVID-19 Crisis

AU - Poder, Poul

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Abstract: Courage, risks and dating in the COVID19 crisis This chapter explores courage as an emotionally involved form of action. The notion of courage is challenging as we have physical, psychological, moral, and existential forms of courage but also because what engenders courageous actions is still somewhat of a puzzle within social science. Firstly, I introduce the main forms and explanations of courage. Secondly, dating is discussed to illustrate how courage is an important analytical category to understand peoples’ actions. In dating persons often overcome their fear of being rejected. During the COVID19 crisis new insecurities, fears were added to the practice of dating which now could imply both fear of being infected and fear of moral condemnation by others who would consider dating morally irresponsible behavior. Thirdly, I discuss theoretical and methodological implications of a mini analysis of a story about active and direct dating interactions during the first lockdown period in Denmark during the COVID19 crisis. Often courage is thought of as so extraordinary that it is not part of peoples’ ordinary social life. But it is not. People do experience situations that call forth courage, which implies overcoming fear and insecurity in striving to realize goals more important than avoiding feeling such uncomfortable emotions. Situations in which they cannot merely rely on routine and/or self-confidence and others’ trust. Consequently, this chapter explains how and why courage is an important analytical category for the sociological enterprise. Finally, the conclusion offers some reflections concerning courage and dating in future neo-COVID predicaments and how courage can be studied methodologically speaking.

AB - Abstract: Courage, risks and dating in the COVID19 crisis This chapter explores courage as an emotionally involved form of action. The notion of courage is challenging as we have physical, psychological, moral, and existential forms of courage but also because what engenders courageous actions is still somewhat of a puzzle within social science. Firstly, I introduce the main forms and explanations of courage. Secondly, dating is discussed to illustrate how courage is an important analytical category to understand peoples’ actions. In dating persons often overcome their fear of being rejected. During the COVID19 crisis new insecurities, fears were added to the practice of dating which now could imply both fear of being infected and fear of moral condemnation by others who would consider dating morally irresponsible behavior. Thirdly, I discuss theoretical and methodological implications of a mini analysis of a story about active and direct dating interactions during the first lockdown period in Denmark during the COVID19 crisis. Often courage is thought of as so extraordinary that it is not part of peoples’ ordinary social life. But it is not. People do experience situations that call forth courage, which implies overcoming fear and insecurity in striving to realize goals more important than avoiding feeling such uncomfortable emotions. Situations in which they cannot merely rely on routine and/or self-confidence and others’ trust. Consequently, this chapter explains how and why courage is an important analytical category for the sociological enterprise. Finally, the conclusion offers some reflections concerning courage and dating in future neo-COVID predicaments and how courage can be studied methodologically speaking.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - agency, courage, risk-taking, morality, methodology

UR - https://books.emeraldinsight.com/book/detail/the-emerald-handbook-of-the-sociology-of-emotions-for-a-post-pandemic-world/?k=9781803823249

M3 - Book chapter

SN - 9781803823249

BT - The Emerald Handbook of the Sociology of Emotions for a Post-Pandemic World

A2 - Ward, Paul

A2 - Foley, Kristen

PB - Emerald Group Publishing

ER -