Unpacking the ‘why’ behind strategic emotion expression at work: A narrative review and proposed taxonomy

Deanna Geddes, Dirk Lindebaum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Strategic emotion expression constitutes a common-thread phenomenon in emotion regulation and emotion management research across multiple behavioral and social science disciplines. Despite this prevalence, less is known about the “why” behind these observable emotion displays within organizations. Exemplary research is reviewed reflecting the variety of motives behind strategic emotion displays. We argue that significant theoretical opportunity exists with acknowledging motivational differences underlying expressed emotion at work. Our narrative review helps generate a comprehensive and multilevel taxonomy of individual motives (personal and interpersonal), organizational emotion display rules or norms, and socio-cultural emotionologies that reflect dynamic societal expectations and conventions regarding appropriate emotion displays. Strategic emotion expression in organizations reveals the intersection of self- and other-imposed prescriptions and/or restrictions on emotional episodes and distinguishes the nature and purpose of emotive behaviors at work.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)708-722
Number of pages15
JournalEuropean Management Journal
Volume38
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Oct 2020

Keywords

  • Emotion
  • Emotion display rules
  • Emotion management
  • Emotion regulation
  • Emotions at work
  • Strategic emotion expression

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Strategy and Management

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