New Books Network Pauwke Berkers and Yosha Wijngaarden, "A Sociology of Awkwardness: On Social Interactions Going Wrong" (Taylor & Francis, 2025)
Aug 30, 2025
Yosha Wijngaarden, an assistant professor at Erasmus University focused on media interactions, joins Pauwke Berkers, a full professor who studies the sociology of popular music. They dive into how social awkwardness shapes daily life and relationships. From navigating post-pandemic interactions to dissecting awkwardness in comedy, their insights illuminate its cultural dimensions. They even discuss the creative potential of sociology, including unconventional topics like yodeling. Perfect for anyone who's ever felt a little out of place!
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Awkwardness As A Social Outcome
- Awkwardness is not a stable personal trait but a social feeling that arises when interactions go wrong.
- The authors position awkwardness as an outcome of interaction, shaped by context and culture.
Awkwardness Versus Embarrassment
- Awkwardness overlaps with embarrassment but differs in duration and social origin.
- The authors see embarrassment as brief and individual, while awkwardness can be prolonged and relational.
From PhD Fieldnotes To Awkwardness Data
- Yosha reused an unused PhD ethnography about open workspaces to study awkwardness at work.
- She tied that material to interviews about social contact after COVID to show practical examples.
