Expressive suppression within task-oriented dyads: The moderating role of power
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Balzarotti, Stefania
Cesana, Stefano
Biassoni, Federica
Ciceri, Maria R.
Abstract / Description
Although research has so far consistently revealed that using suppression to regulate emotions has adverse personal and social effects, it has been argued that suppression may be less detrimental within non-close relationships. In the present work, we examined the effects of experimentally induced suppression on expressive behavior, emotional experience, and social outcomes within task-oriented interactions between individuals randomly assigned to high/low vs. equal power positions. Eighty-eight participants were randomly paired with a partner of the same gender (forty-four dyads). After being randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions created to manipulate suppression use and power, each dyad was asked to complete two problem-solving tasks. The results showed that the participants who were assigned to the subordinate (low-power) role and who used suppression to regulate their emotions reported more negative emotional experience than did individuals assigned to equal-power roles, as well as more inauthenticity and diminished feelings of rapport compared to subordinates who freely expressed their feelings. Moreover, we found that the use of suppression also influenced participants assigned to the manager (high-power) role, as they exhibited less positive behavior, reported less positive experience and lower feelings of rapport when interacting with a partner asked to suppress. When individuals were assigned to equal power roles, the participants instructed to use suppression reported lower levels of positive emotions than did their partners as well as higher feelings of inauthenticity compared to uninstructed participants. Overall, these findings seem to suggest that suppression may impair task-oriented interactions between high/low power individuals more than interactions between individuals sharing equal power.
Keyword(s)
expressive suppression nonverbal behavior emotional experience powerPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2020-11-27
Journal title
Europe's Journal of Psychology
Volume
16
Issue
4
Page numbers
561–587
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Balzarotti, S., Cesana, S., Biassoni, F., & Ciceri, M. R. (2020). Expressive suppression within task-oriented dyads: The moderating role of power. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 16(4), 561-587. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v16i4.1947
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Balzarotti, Stefania
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Cesana, Stefano
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Biassoni, Federica
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Ciceri, Maria R.
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2022-04-14T11:20:15Z
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Made available on2022-04-14T11:20:15Z
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Date of first publication2020-11-27
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Abstract / DescriptionAlthough research has so far consistently revealed that using suppression to regulate emotions has adverse personal and social effects, it has been argued that suppression may be less detrimental within non-close relationships. In the present work, we examined the effects of experimentally induced suppression on expressive behavior, emotional experience, and social outcomes within task-oriented interactions between individuals randomly assigned to high/low vs. equal power positions. Eighty-eight participants were randomly paired with a partner of the same gender (forty-four dyads). After being randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions created to manipulate suppression use and power, each dyad was asked to complete two problem-solving tasks. The results showed that the participants who were assigned to the subordinate (low-power) role and who used suppression to regulate their emotions reported more negative emotional experience than did individuals assigned to equal-power roles, as well as more inauthenticity and diminished feelings of rapport compared to subordinates who freely expressed their feelings. Moreover, we found that the use of suppression also influenced participants assigned to the manager (high-power) role, as they exhibited less positive behavior, reported less positive experience and lower feelings of rapport when interacting with a partner asked to suppress. When individuals were assigned to equal power roles, the participants instructed to use suppression reported lower levels of positive emotions than did their partners as well as higher feelings of inauthenticity compared to uninstructed participants. Overall, these findings seem to suggest that suppression may impair task-oriented interactions between high/low power individuals more than interactions between individuals sharing equal power.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationBalzarotti, S., Cesana, S., Biassoni, F., & Ciceri, M. R. (2020). Expressive suppression within task-oriented dyads: The moderating role of power. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 16(4), 561-587. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v16i4.1947
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ISSN1841-0413
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/5297
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.5901
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v16i4.1947
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Is related tohttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.4227
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Keyword(s)expressive suppressionen_US
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Keyword(s)nonverbal behavioren_US
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Keyword(s)emotional experienceen_US
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Keyword(s)poweren_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleExpressive suppression within task-oriented dyads: The moderating role of poweren_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue4
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Journal titleEurope's Journal of Psychology
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Page numbers561–587
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Volume16
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Visible tag(s)Version of Recorden_US