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Expressive suppression is defined as the intentional reduction of the facial expression of an emotion. It is a component of emotion regulation.
Expressive suppression is a concept "based on individuals' emotion knowledge, which includes knowledge about the causes of emotion, about their bodily sensations and expressive behavior, and about the possible means of modifying them"[1]: 157 In other words, expressive suppression signifies the act of masking facial giveaways (see facial expression) to hide an underlying emotional state (see affect). Simply suppressing the facial expressions that accompany certain emotions can affect "the individual's experience of emotion"[1]: 165 According to a 1974 study done by Kopel and Arkowitz, repressing the facial expressions associated with pain decreased the experience of pain in participants.[2] However, "there is little evidence that the suppression of spontaneous emotional expression leads to a decrease in emotional experience and physiological arousal apart from the manipulation of the pain expressions".[1]: 165
According to Gross and Levenson's 1993 study in which subjects watched a disgusting film while suppressing or not suppressing their expressions, suppression produced increased blinking.[3] However, suppression also produced a decreased heart rate in participants and self-reports did not reflect that suppression affected the disgust experience. While it is unclear from Gross and Levenson's study whether suppression successfully diminishes the experience of emotions, it can be concluded that expressive suppression does not completely inhibit all facial movements and expressions (e.g. blinking of the eyes).[citation needed] Niedenthal argues that expressive suppression works to decrease the experience of positive emotions whereas it does not successfully decrease the experience of negative emotions.[1]
It may be that expressive suppression serves more of a social purpose than it serves a purpose for the individual. In a study done by Kleck and colleagues in 1976, participants were told to suppress facial expressions of pain during the reception of electric shocks. Specifically, "in one study the subjects were induced to exaggerate or minimize their facial expressions to fool a supposed audience".[4]: 27 This idea of covering up an internal experience in front of observers could be the true reason that expressive suppression is utilized in social situations. "In everyday life, suppression may serve to conform individuals' outward appearance to emotional norms in a given situation, and to facilitate social interaction".[1]: 168 In this way, hiding negative emotions may cause more successful social relationships by preventing conflict, stifling the spread of negative emotions, and protecting an individual from negative judgments made by others.[1]
^ abcdefNiedenthal, P. M., Ric, F., & Krauth-Gruber, S. (2006). Psychology of emotion: Interpersonal, experiential, and cognitive approaches (Chapter 5, Regulation of Emotions, pp. 155-194). New York, NY: Psychology Press.
^Kopel, S. A., & Arkowitz, H. S. (1974). Role-playing as a source of self-observation and behavior change. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 29(5), 677-686.
^Gross, J. J., & Levenson, R. W. (1993). Emotional suppression: Physiology, self-report, and expressive behavior. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 64(6), 970-986.
^Laird, J. D. (2007). Feelings: The perception of self. New York: Oxford University Press.
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