Balancing hope and fear – Swedish young adults’ housing strategies on a scarce market

Abstract

This study explores emotions in young Swedish adults’ search for housing. Along with this purpose the theoretical aim is to explore the role of emotions in action and decision-making. Through semi-structured interviews and based on sociological theory of emotions the following questions are answered: What are the main emotions associated with looking for housing on a scarce market? How do these emotions orient decisions and strategies in the housing search? How are these emotions managed by the subjects in order to avoid emotions that hamper and encourage emotions that promote continued searching? In the light of the uncertain future, housing search is driven and changed by temporal emotions such as hope, fear, hopelessness, confidence and trust. The strategies and experiences of the housing search is compromised and conflicted by moral emotions such as shame, anger and sympathy. To uphold hope needed to continue searching, active emotion management is needed. Hope in specific events are held down while a general long-term hope is built up in order to continue what appears to be fruitless actions, creating a seedbed for future possibilities.