AN APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF ENVY FROM A SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The objective of this article was to explore the theme of envy from a sociocultural perspective and consider it as a socially constructed emotion, which allows to conceptually clarify this emotion and thus be able to determine its repercussion within the contemporary era. The conceptual differences of the terms affective state, feeling and emotions are discussed, considering them as independent concepts and not interchangeable with each other. Envy is located as a social emotion that has its genesis in social interaction and the survival instinct. The relevance of the historical-cultural perspective is framed as the most relevant approach for the theoretical approach to emotions and envy specifically. The implications of this article for conducting future research and the importance of resignifying envy for its self-regulation within a postmodern society are discussed.