Hur emotionellt krävande är egentligen arbetet inom kriminalvården? : En kvalitativ studie om det emotionella arbetet inom kriminalvården

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was to analyse how emotions affect prison officers in their daily work. The study seeks to understand how prison officers manage their emotions in the social interactions with clients, and how exercise of authority affects their handling of emotions at work. Formulation of questions that has been answered is how prison officers handle their emotions at work, how they handle their emotions in the social interactions with clients and how they are affected by exercise of authority. Theories that have been applied to this study is Arlie Russell Hochschild and her theory about emotional labor, Michael Foucualt theory about power and Erving Goffman theory about dramaturgy. To answer the purpose of the study, a qualitative research has been used, and six prison officers have been interviewed. The conclusion of the study shows that prison officers handle their emotions through talking with colleagues and manager. It also shows that prison officers are positively affected by exercise of authority. They explained that these policies are made for prison officers and clients safety.