Chapter 11 Emotional Capital in Caring Work

Abstract

The present article sets out to explore the ethical aspect of emotional competence used as both a personal and a collective resource in the occupational context of caring work. The data discussed in this article consists of interviews of and writings by Finnish social workers and nurses. By combining the concepts ‘emotional capital’ and ‘ethics of care’, this article concludes that the emotional competence of care workers manifests itself as the capability to use one's emotions in a way that enhances the ethical values of caring work and provides the employees with a sense of professional competence.

Citation

Virkki, T. (2007), "Chapter 11 Emotional Capital in Caring Work", Härtel, C.E.J., Ashkanasy, N.M. and Zerbe, W.J. (Ed.) Functionality, Intentionality and Morality (Research on Emotion in Organizations, Vol. 3), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 265-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1746-9791(07)03011-8