Emotional habitus through media: toxic romance and the rise of “malaise” in intimate relationships

• Brigida Orria ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Naples Federico II

     University of Naples Federico II

     Nápoles, Italia

     
• Localización: Comunicación y Género, ISSN-e 2605-1982, Vol. 8, Nº. 1, 2025, págs. 1-12
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • El habitus emocional en los medios contemporáneos: romance tóxico y la figura del “malestar” en las relaciones íntimas
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • English

    This study investigates the role of emotional habitus in contemporary media, focusing on the por-trayal of toxic masculinity in the Italian TV series “Mare Fuori” and its influence on digital culture, particularly on TikTok. Emotions, rather than being solely individual experiences, are examined as socially constructed phenomena embedded within gendered power structures. Through an analysis of the “malaise” (malessere), a character romanticized for his dominance, jealousy, and possessiveness, this research reveals how patriar-chal norms are reproduced and legitimized via popular culture and social media trends. The emotional ha-bitus of “malaise” is shaped by emotions such as jealousy and anger, manifesting in control and dominance, key traits of hegemonic masculinity. Meanwhile, the women associated with this figure internalize emotions of suffering and fear, reinforcing narratives of submission and affective dependence. Moreover, the study underscores the heuristic and practical value of the concept of emotional habitus in understanding the inter-section of social norms, emotions, and power dynamics in intimate relationships

  • English

    Este estudio analiza el papel del “habitus emocional” en los medios de comunicación contem-poráneos, centrándose en la representación de la masculinidad tóxica en la serie televisiva italiana “Mar Afuera” y su influencia en la cultura digital, particularmente en TikTok. Las emociones, lejos de concebirse como experiencias meramente individuales, se examinan como fenómenos socialmente construidos e ins-critos en estructuras de poder generizadas. A través del análisis de la figura del “malessere”, un personaje romantizado por su dominación, celos y posesividad, esta investigación muestra cómo las normas patriarca-les son reproducidas y legitimadas mediante la cultura popular y las tendencias en redes sociales. El habitus emocional del “malessere” se configura a partir de emociones como los celos y la rabia, que se expresan en formas de control y dominación, rasgos clave de la masculinidad hegemónica. Al mismo tiempo, las mujeres vinculadas a esta figura interiorizan emociones de sufrimiento y miedo, reforzando narrativas de sumisión y dependencia afectiva. Asimismo, el estudio subraya el valor heurístico y práctico del concepto de habitus emocional para comprender la intersección entre normas sociales, emociones y dinámicas de poder en las relaciones íntimas

• Referencias bibliográficas
  • -Abidin, C. (2021):“Mapping internet celebrity on TikTok: Exploring attention economies and visibility labours”, Cultural science journal,...
  • -Ahmed, S. (2004):The Cultural Politics of Emotion, New York - London, Routledge.Ahmed, S. (2017):Living a Feminist Life, Durham, NC, Duke...
  • -Airoldi, M. (2023):Machine Habitus: Towards a Sociology of Algorithms, Cambridge, John Wiley & Sons.
  • -Amaturo, E., & Punziano, G. (2016):I Mixed Methods nella ricerca sociale, Roma, Carocci.Arvidsson, A. (2005): Brands: A critical perspective,Journal...
  • -Bainotti, L., and Semenzin, S. (2021): Donne tutte puttane: Revenge porn e maschilità egemone, Andria, Durango edizioni.
  • -Bandinelli, C. (2024): Le post-romantiche: Sui nuovi modi di amare, Bari, Laterza.
  • -Bandinelli, C., & Gandini, A. (2022): Dating apps: The uncertainty of marketised love,Cultural Sociology, 16 (3), pp. 423-441.
  • -Banet-Weiser, S. (2018):Empowered: Popular Feminism and Popular Misogyny, Durham, Duke UP.
  • -Bauman, Z. (2013):Liquid love: On the frailty of human bonds, New York, John Wiley & Sons.
  • -Beck, U., & Beck-Gernsheim, E. (2018):The normal chaos of love, New York, John Wiley & Sons.
  • -Bermúdez, M. P., & Meléndez-Domínguez, M. (2020): Epidemiological analysis of gender violence in the European Union, Anales...
  • -Bettaglio, M., Mandolini, N., & Ross, S. (2018):Rappresentare la violenza di genere: Sguardi femministi tra critica, attivismo...
  • -Beyer, M. (2022):“«Listen to your fear»: how fear discourse (re)produces gendered sexual subjectivities”, Emotions and Society,...
  • -Boffone T. (ed.) (2022):TikTok Cultures in the United States, Routledge, London.Bourdieu, P. (1998):Practical reason: On the theory of action,...
  • -Botto, M., Filippi, D., Farci, M., Ciccone, S., & Virtù, L. (2022):“Maschilità tossica: potenzialità e limiti di un concetto...
  • -Butler, J. (2004):Undoing gender, trad. it. Fare e disfare il genere, Milano-Udine, Mimesis, 2014.
  • -Caliandro, A., & Gandini A. (2019): I metodi digitali nella ricerca sociale, Roma, Carocci.
  • -Cerulo, M. (2024): Sociologia delle emozioni. Autori, teorie, concetti, Bologna, il Mulino.Cerulo M. & Scribano, A. (a cura di)...
  • -Connell, R. W. (1995):Masculinities, Berkeley Los Angeles, University of California Press.Connell, R. W. (2009): Gender, trad. it. Questioni...
  • -Connell, R. W., & Messerschmidt, J. W. (2005):“Hegemonic masculinity: Rethinking the concept”, Gender & society, 19 (6), pp.829-859.
  • -Dal Monte, L. (2021):Belli e dannati. Vivere e morire nella F1 degli anni Settanta (Vol. 1), Napoli, Giunti.Dietze G. & Roth J. (2020):Right-Wing...
  • -Damasio, A. R. (2001):“Emotion and the human brain”, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 935 (1), pp.101-106.
  • -Denby, A., & Hooff, J. V. (2024):“‘An emotional stalemate’: cold intimacies in heterosexual young people’s dating practices”,Emotions...
  • -Dordoni, A., & Magaraggia, S. (2021): “Modelli di mascolinità nei gruppi online Incel e Red Pill: Narrazione vittimistica...
  • -Doyle, B. (2022):TikTok Statistics - Everything You Need to Know. Wallaroo Media. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://wallaroomedia.com/blog/social-media/tiktok-statistics/
  • -Federici, S. (2020):Revolution at point zero: Housework, reproduction, and feminist struggle, San Francisco, PM press.
  • -Ferguson, M. L. (2010): Choice feminism and the fear of politics,Perspectives on politics, 8(1), 247-253.
  • -Fischer, A. (Ed.). (2000):Gender and emotion: Social psychological perspectives, Cambridge University Press.
  • -Fitzgerald, F. S. (2011):Belli e dannati , (93), Roma, Newton Compton Editori.
  • -Galimberti, U. (2023): intervista a L’aria che tira del 22 novembre 2023, estratto https://www.instagram.com/ariachetirala7/reel/Cz8zOrUt0yu/...
  • -Giddens, A. (1992):The Transformation of Intimacy: Sexuality, Love, and Eroticism in Modern Societies, Stanford University Press.
  • -Gourarier, M., & Benveniste, A. (2017):“Alpha mâle, Séduire les femmes pour s’ apprécier entre hommes?”, Chimères, 2, pp. 175-178.
  • -Guerra, J. (2021):Il capitale amoroso: Manifesto per un eros politico e rivoluzionario, (6), Milano, Bompiani.Hall, S. (1980):“Encoding...
  • -Londra, Hutchinson, pp. 128–138.Haraway, D. (2015):“Anthropocene, capitalocene, plantationocene, chthulucene: Making kin”, Environmental...
  • -Harris, S. (2015):An Invitation to the Sociology of Emotions, London-New York, Routledge.
  • -Hochschild, A. R. (1979): Emotion Work, Feeling Rules and Social Structure, in American Journal of Sociology, vol. 85, n. 3, pp. 551-575;...
  • -hooks, b. (2000):Feminist theory: From margin to center, London, Pluto Press.
  • -Illouz, E. (2007):Cold Intimacies: The Making of Emotional Capitalism, London, Polity Press.
  • -Illouz, E. (2017):Introduction: emodities or the making of emotional commodities. In Emotions as Commodities, London-New York, Routledge.
  • -ISTAT (2023):La misurazione della violenza contro le donne e delle disuguaglianze di genere. https://www.istat.it/it/files//2023/12/Muratore-GEnere2023.pdf...
  • -Jacobsen, M. H. (eds) (2019):Emotions, Everyday Life and Sociology, London-New York, Routledge.
  • -Jameson, F. (1981):The Political Unconscious: Narrative as a Socially Symbolic Act, Cornell University Press.
  • -Kristeva J. (1980):Desire in language: a semiotic approach to literature and art, Columbia University Press.
  • -Kupers, T. A. (2005):“Toxic masculinity as a barrier to mental health treatment in prison”, Journal of clinical psychology, 61(6), pp. 713-724.
  • -Magaraggia, S., & Cherubini, D. (2013):Uomini contro le donne? Le radici della violenza maschile. Torino, De Agostini-Utet.
  • -Nodari, F. (2021):Donne e Shoah, Milano, Mimesis.Orria B., Graziano R., Bellafronte S. (2024):“Malessere TikTok: misoginia e violenza,...
  • -PettyJohn, M. E., Muzzey, F. K., Maas, M. K., & McCauley, H. L. (2019):“# HowIWillChange: Engaging men and boys in the# MeToo movement”,...
  • -Piazzesi, C. (2021):“Sentirsi bene, sentirsi bella: emozioni e contraddizioni nell’esperienza femminile della bellezza”, Società...
  • -Piccone Stella, S., & Saraceno, C. (1996):Genere. La costruzione sociale del femminile e del maschile, Bologna, Il Mulino.
  • -Ragone, G. (2015):“Radici della sociologia dell’immaginario”,Mediascapes journal, 4 pp. 63-75.
  • -Ravveduto, M. (2023):interview in “Malessere e polemica” https://napoli.corriere.it/notizie/cultura-e-tempo-libero/23_novembre_10/malessere-e-polemica-sul-brano-della-neomelodica-fabiana-che-spopola-tra-le-ragazzine-mortifica-la-donna-nega-la-sua-emancipazione-2ce23969-2cfe-47f7-9242-18aea5b2cxlk.shtml...
  • -Rinaldi, C. (2016): Sesso, sé e società. Per una sociologia della sessualità, Milano, Mondadori.
  • -Rinaldi, C. (ed) (2017):I copioni sessuali. Storia, analisi e applicazioni, Milano, Mondadori.
  • -Robustelli, C. (2000):“Lingua e identità di genere. Problemi attuali nell’italiano”,Studi italiani di linguistica teorica e applicata,...
  • -Rossi, E., & Capalbi, A. (2022):“La rappresentazione mediale della violenza verbale, emotiva e psicologica nella comunicazione intima....
  • -Jeleniewski Seidler, V. (2007):“Masculinities, bodies, and emotional life”, Men and masculinities, 10(1), pp. 9-21.
  • -Singly, F. (2016): Le soi, le couple et la famille, Paris, Armand Colin.
  • -Stets, J. E., and Turner, J. H. (2014):Handbook of the Sociology of Emotions, Berlino, Springer.
  • -Thoits, P. (1985):“Self-labeling Processes in Mental Illness. The Role of Emotional Deviance”, American Journal of Sociology,...
  • -Thoits, P. (1990):Emotional Deviance: Research Agendas, in Kemper [1990, 180-205]; trad. it. Devianza emozionale: futuri obiettivi della...
  • -Thoits, P. (2004):“Emotion Norms, Emotion Work, and Social Order”, in Frijda N.H., & Fischer A.H. (eds), Feelings and Emotions:...
  • -Turnaturi G. (1995):“Introduzione”, in Id. (ed), La sociologia delle emozioni, Milano, Anabasi, pp. 7-24.
  • -Turner J.H. e Stets, J.E. (2005):The Sociology of Emotions, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
  • -Van Dijck, J. (2013): The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media, Oxford , Oxford University Press.
  • -Wirtz, A., Poteat, T., Malik, M., & Glass, N. (2020):“Gender-based violence against transgender people in the United States: A call for...
  • -Zuo H., Wang T. (2019): “Analysis of Tik Tok User Behavior from the Perspective of Popular Culture”, Frontiers in Art Research, 1(3), pp...