Hiding Emotions May Make It Difficult To Build Friendships

Pulse

oi-Staff

By Staff

Thursday, July 30, 2009, 15:16

Sanjay Srivastava, an Indian-origin researcher in the U.S. says that people who keep too much of their emotions to themselves may find it difficult to build friendships. In his study, Srivastava looked at the social costs of emotional suppression among 278 college freshman during their first term at a major West Coast university.

The study was carried out as part of a larger research project looking at how and why emotions matter for social adjustment, particularly in critical situations like the transition to college. A group of students were then send to colleges. They were, however, contacted before they left home for college. The researchers behind it looked at expressive suppression, a strategy some people use to regulate emotions where they "basically just try to not show any emotion on the outside," Srivastava said.

The researchers then took the aid of weekly diaries to obtained data on each participant's support from parents and friends, closeness with others, social satisfaction and academic satisfaction. At the end of the term, the participants again addressed their levels of support from friends, closeness, and social and academic satisfaction. The researchers also gathered corroborating information from friends who could give first-hand accounts of how the participants were faring at college.

This unfolded the page that had remain unturned for years'. "Hiding your emotions," says Srivastava "Is something that is very common but it's something that often is not the right thing to do". He adds: "We're not saying never ever do this, but doing it may have negative effects in certain contexts, such as in transitioning into college."

According to him, data gathered from the participants and friends provided similar results. He corroborates: "People who were hiding or masking their emotions were having more difficult times forming close, meaningful, supportive and satisfying relationships."

He points out that studies conducted in the past have shown that people keep emotions hidden during times when they feel alienated or disconnected, or when a situation leaves them feeling out of control. For some individuals, those feelings may be more pronounced during major transitions, putting college freshmen at particular risk. He explains: "In certain situations, it is natural and understandable, but if done all the time it may be counterproductive. We are trying to figure out where and why such emotional suppression is appropriate".

On the issue, he concludes by saying, "It may be that people who do this may be having a more intense negative experience. People who do this are less likely to show positive emotions, like laugh at other people's jokes, or smile, or even disclose their negative feelings."

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