External Constraints on Emotions

Two types of environmental factors, organizational and cultural, influence the emotions people experience and display in the workplace.

1. Organizational Influences
   
   
   1. There is no universal agreement about which forms of emotional expression are allowed (or not) in organizations. Organizations have different values and standards concerning this matter. 
   
   
   2. In the United States, many organizations discourage expressing negative emotion such as fear, anxiety, and anger.


2. Cultural Influences
   
   
   1. In the United States, employees in service industries typically are expected to smile and be friendly when interacting with customers. In other countries such as Finland, The Netherlands, and Israel, such displays of sociability are considered to be unduly familiar.
   
   
   2. Differences in understanding what constitutes appropriate displays of emotional expression tend to be less pronounced within cultures than between them.