Abstract: The evolution of the western sociological theories of emotions has three stages: formation, development, and the maturity. Although rationalism was dominant during the initial formation stage, research into emotions advanced step by step and some non-rationalism trends manifested themselves, too. At its development stage, the social crisis theory, the Sexual Revolution, the critical theory, and the conflict theory formed the mainstream with a strong voice. The sociology of emotions at the maturity stage is developing in two directions: building itself into a discipline and establishing links with reality. Its developmental path displays five characteristics or five trends.
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Key words: western sociological theories of emotions, developmental path, five trends