^Researchers

Mr Jonathan G. Heaney

Government of Ireland Scholar

 Ph: +353 (0) 91-492293; Ext: 2295

Email: jonathangheaney gmail.com                                                                  

Jonathan G. Heaney, a PhD candidate within the School of Political Science & Sociology, was awarded a (double) first class honors degree (BA Hons) in 2007 from NUI Galway, having achieved a 1:1 in both Sociology & Politics, and Economics. He finished top of his class in the final year of the former subject, earning him a departmental fellowship of €10,000 for the first year of his postgraduate studies.  In addition, he was twice awarded the title "University Scholar" as an undergraduate.  Jonathan's current research is funded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS).[Note 1] 

Current Research:

Title :  Habitus shift in Liquid modern Ireland

Supervisor(s):  Dr Mark Haugaard & Dr. Kevin Ryan, School of Political Science & Sociology. 

Funding Body:  Irish Research Council for the Humanities & Social Sciences. 

Abstract: Until quite recently human emotions remained under-theorised within sociology.  With the emergence of the sociology of emotions since the 1970’s this has gradually changed.  However, even within this literature there exists a micro bias, with the relationships between emotions and more macro issues like social change, social structures and culture remaining, with a few notable exceptions, under-explored.  Yet emotions, their arousal and regulation, are fundamental to the constitution and functioning of society; to the formation of social bonds and the maintenance of social order.  This project aims to explore the relationship between social change, power and emotional habitus in late modernity, and 20 ^th centaury Ireland in particular.  Due to the speed and scale of change that has occurred here, Ireland is an ideal site for such research, yet such an analysis has not been attempted here to date.  One of the key objectives of this project is to suggest that many of the problematic social and sociological issues that have emerged in light of this social change may be rooted in an altered affective constitution-a link not yet explored.  In doing so, it draws on insights from social theory, particularly the work of Norbert Elias, the sociology of emotions, and also from social psychology and social neuroscience.  Empirically, the core hypotheses will be tested using a specific form of life-history narrative interviewing (BNIM).  

Teaching:

Jonathan teaches social theory at NUI Galway.  In particular, he had taught modules on the Contemporary Social Thought course for final year students within the school of Political Science & Sociology (SP405).  Topics have included an introduction to social theory, and lectures on particular thinkers such as Parsons, Elias, Bourdieu and Foucault.  Jonathan has been an internal examiner on this course for a number of years.  He has also taught modules on critical thinking and intends to teach a course in the sociology of emotions in the future.   

Publications:

2010 (under review) “Emotions & Power: On the Reunification of Conceptual Twins” European Journal of Social Theory. 

2009 (forthcoming) Review-Shyness and Society by Susie Scott (2007),  Sociological Research Online, 2009. 

2008. "Formalization & Synergy in Emotions Theory". Review- Human Emotions: A Sociological Theory  by Jonathan H. Turner (2007).  Journal of Power, Volume 1, Issue 3 December 2008 , pages 385-389.   

Conference Papers:

2010 “Human Emotions & Social Change in Ireland”.  European Sociological Association, Interim Conference of the Sociology of Emotions Research Network, University of Graz, Austria, September 29 ^th-October 2 ^nd. 

2010 “A Sociological Overview of Modern Ireland”.  Fairfield University Summer School, NUI Galway, June 4 ^th. 

2010 “Emotions & Power: Towards a Theory”. Power, Conflict & Ideologies Research Cluster, School of Political Science & Sociology, NUI Galway, May 5 ^th. 

2010 “Emotions & Power: A Theoretical Analysis”.  International Political Science Association RC36 (Political Power) Interim Meeting, Soeterbeeck, Netherlands, April 15 ^th – 18 ^th, 2010. 

2009 "Human emotions and social change".  Sociological Association of Ireland Annual Conference, Waterford Institute of Technology, May, 2009. 

2008  "Habitus Shift in Liquid Modern Ireland: A Theoretical Exploration."  Sociological Association of Ireland Annual Conference, NUI Galway, May, 2008.

2008   "Reflections of the gulf-What is said, what is heard".  "In at the Deep End: Learning to Teach in Higher Education", Postgraduate Symposium, University College Cork.

Miscellaneous: 

• 2010 Attended and helped organize the Nationalism & Organised Violence Conference, run by the Irish Political Science Association and the Nationalism & Organised Violence Research Centre, NUI Galway, 24 ^th September.  
• 2009 Completed the Biographical Narrative Interpretive Method (BNIM) 5-day training programme conducted by Tom Wengraf and Prue Chamberlynn, Burren College of Art & Design, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare.  November 19 ^th-25 ^th.  
• 2009 Attended the 5-Day Theory & Philosophy Summer School at the Blackwater Castle, Cork , Ireland and run by the School of  Sociology & Philosophy, University College Cork, May 3 ^rd – 8 ^th.  (ECTSx10). 
• 2009 Attended and helped organize the SSRC Annual Lecture by Prof. Mitchell Dean, "Social Thought and the Art of Government", Moore Institute, NUI Galway, April 24 ^th. 
• 2009 Completed a One Day Training course on the Nvivo8 qualitative research software programme, January 30 ^th, NUI Galway. 
• 2008 Attended and provided IT Support for the Political Science Association Ireland Annual Conference, October 17 ^th – 19 ^th, NUI Galway. 
• 2008 Completed the Certificate in Postgraduate Development course, NUI Galway. 
• 2007 Attended the international conference: “Civilizing and Decivilizing Processes: A Figurational Approach to American Studies” at The Institute for American Studies and the Center for North American Studies (ZENAF), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University in Frankfurt/Main. November 22-24. 
• 2007 Attended lecture by Prof. Loïc Wacquant (hosted by Prof. Axel Honneth) “The Rise of the Precariat in the Neoliberal City”.   Institut für Sozialforschung, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universitat, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 23 ^rd November. 

See also:

http://www.nuigalway.ie/ssrc/jonathanheaney.html
http://nuigalway.academia.edu/JonathanHeaney
http://theorytypes.wordpress.com/

_____________

Note 1: The Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) funds leading-edge research in the Humanities and Social Sciences, including Law and Business Studies. Its primary strategic objective centers on building an expertise-driven research system in order to enhance Ireland's innovation capacity and skills base in a rapidly-changing global environment where knowledge is key to economic, social and cultural development. IRCHSS is further committed to facilitating the integration of Irish researchers in the humanities and social sciences within the European Research Area. For further information, please see www.irchss.ie. 

• Disclaimer
• Privacy
• Copyright
• Accessibility