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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Emotion Science
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1437298

EMBARRASSMENT AS A PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE EMOTION AND SYMBOLIC COPING BEHAVIOUR

Provisionally accepted
Meikel Soliman Meikel Soliman *
  • Leuphana University Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    In dealing with embarrassment, individuals engage in symbolic coping behaviours (e.g., hiding one’s face by wearing sunglasses). Research investigated these behaviours when embarrassment is experienced as a public emotion (e.g., others present). Contrary, there is emerging evidence showing that embarrassment can be experienced as a private emotion (e.g., no others present) as well. This is why the present research seeks to enhance Dong et al.’s (2013) seminal work on symbolic coping behaviours and investigates to what extent symbolic coping behaviours differ when embarrassment is experienced in public and private. First, the present study finds that individuals experience embarrassment as a private as well as a public emotion. Second, both types of embarrassment relate to symbolic coping behaviours. Third, while both types of embarrassment experience a preference for face-hiding products there are differences in symbolic coping behaviours. Fourth, the study transfers Dong et al.’s (2013) research to a different cultural context.

    Keywords: emotion, Public Embarrassment, Private Embarrassment, Symbolic coping, context

    Received: 24 May 2024; Accepted: 23 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Soliman. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Meikel Soliman, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.