Spotlight on spectators: Emotions in the theater

In investigating theater spectators and their aesthetic experiences, a sociological and a psychological orientation on contemporary theater research were compared. Field studies usually concern sociological variables (e.g., age, education, and appreciation). If occasionally the spectator's emotional experience is explored, the Aristotelian viewpoint prevails, resulting in the identification hypothesis. This study opts for a broader perspective based on contemporary emotion psychology. Over 350 spectators completed a questionnaire that represented viewpoints from sociological, psychological, and theater studies perspectives. High‐status audiences found the selected performances neither complex nor unconventional and hardly experienced identification emotions but rather experienced empathy and positive task emotions. Their overall appreciation referred mainly to the actor's performance, which was also the strongest source for spectators’ emotions in the theater.