How different emotions emerge in the context of the energy crisis: A contribution to emotional energy geographies

Abstract

The emerging field of emotional energy geography within energy social sciences explores the intersection of energy systems and lived experiences. Pioneering contributions emphasise the need to understand energy usage and decision-making in novel ways. This paper contributes to this discourse by examining emotions in the face of insecurity, steep price increases, and a political crisis, focusing on Germany during the 2022 European energy crises. Political actors predicted either a ‘hot autumn’ or a ‘winter of rage’. However, the massive protests that were anticipated scarcely materialised, and the groups affected internalised the crisis. The study investigates how individuals felt about the situation when rage did not manifest on the streets, exploring the emergence of other emotions. It explores emotions such as fear of costs, conflicts over energy provision, social stress, and pride in energy-saving capacities. The literature on social psychology and emotional sociology posits that emotions arise through the process of defining a given situation. Here, attribution of responsibility appears crucial for the understanding of varied emotional reactions. Shame may lead to internalised conflict avoidance, while collective anger becomes a mobilising force. Drawing on four expert interviews and 30 qualitative interviews with retirees, single parents, and students—groups vulnerable to rising energy costs—the paper challenges expectations of widespread anger. Instead, emotional experiences are intricately tied to existing strategies for coping with poverty and support networks that mitigate the impact of the crises. The findings contribute to a better empirical understanding of emotions in social crises, highlighting the roles of pre-existing coping mechanisms and support structures in shaping emotional responses.