Thomas Scheff:  A student of Erving Goffman’s, Scheff emphasizes the role of emotions and the importance of emotion-management in social interactions.  He furthers Goffman’s understanding of the role of embarrassment by positing a deeper, more profound emotion:  shame.  Shame is more than situational.  It is an indictment of our very selves, and as such, threatens our connections to society.  Scheff also explores anger in relation to shame, and as such can speak to violence surrounding RA.

Goffman Unbound!: A New Paradigm for Social Science (The Sociological Imagination)

Georg Simmel:  German sociologist writing at the turn-of-the 19^th century. Simmel was a keen observer of social dynamics.  His sparkling essays, including an analysis of fashion, writings on the significance of conflict, and an analysis of the differing nature of interactions in dyads vs. triads are directly related to many of the dynamics which inform relationally aggressive behaviors.

 Georg Simmel on Individuality and Social Forms (Heritage of Sociology Series)