For the concept in Marxist philosophy, see Character mask.
In psychology and sociology, masking is the process in which an individual camouflages their natural personality or behavior to conform to social pressures, abuse or harassment. Masking can be strongly influenced by environmental factors such as authoritarian parents, rejection, and emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Masking can be a behavior individuals adopt subconsciously as coping mechanisms or a trauma response, or it can be a conscious behavior an individual adopts to fit in within perceived societal norms. Masking is interconnected with maintaining performative behavior within social structures and cultures.[1]
"Masking" is the act of voluntarily concealing one's true personality, as if behind a metaphorical, physical mask
In theater, comedy, and tragedy masks are used to help the actors portray their emotions similar to how people in society wear a mask to portray emotions that are acceptable
Masking has existed since antiquity, with authors like Shakespeare referencing it in fiction long before masking was formally defined and studied within psychology.[3] Frantz Fanon is credited with defining masking in his 1957 Black Skin, White Masks, which describes masking behavior in race relations within the stratified post-war United States.[1][4] Fanon explains how African-Americans, especially those of low social capital, adopted certain behaviors to resemble white people as well as other behaviors intended to please whites and reinforce the white man's higher social status.[4]
The black man has two dimensions. One with his fellows, the other with the white man. That this self-division is a direct result of colonialist subjugation is beyond question.
The term masking was used to describe the act of concealing disgust by Paul Ekman (1972) and Friesen (1969).[5] It was also thought of as a learned behavior. Developmental studies have shown that this ability begins as early as preschool and improves with age.[6] Masking is mostly used to conceal a negative emotion (usually sadness, frustration, and anger) with a positive emotion or indifferent affect.[5]
The social drivers of masking include social discrimination, cultural dominance, and violence. Elizabeth Radulski argues that masking is a cultural performance within Judith Butler's concept of performativity that helps individuals bypass cultural and structural barriers.[1]
Situational contexts
The causes of masking are highly contextual and situational. Masking may disguise emotions considered socially inappropriate within a situational context, such as anger, jealousy or rage. Individuals may mask in certain social situations, such as job interviews or dates, or around people of different cultures, identities, or ethnicities.[5] Since different social situations require different performances, individuals often switch masks and exhibit different masking behaviors in different contexts. Code-switching, although associated more with linguistics, also refers to the process of changing one's masking behavior around different cultures in social and cultural anthropology.[7] Contextual factors including relationships with one's conversation partner, social capital (class) differences, location, and social setting are all reasons why an individual would express, suppress, or mask an emotion.[8]
There is a gendered disparity in masking behavior; studies show women mask negative emotions to a greater extent than men. According to psychologist Teresa Davis, this may be due to the greater social expectation for conformity placed on female gender roles, causing women to develop the skill to a greater extent than men during childhood socialization.[9]
Autistic masking
Some autistic people have been described as being able to "mask" or "camouflage" their signs of autism in order to meet social expectations. This may involve suppressing self-calming repetitive movements, faking a smile in an environment that they find uncomfortable or distressing, consciously evaluating their own behavior and mirroring others, or choosing not to talk about their special interests. Autistic people with conversational difficulties may also use more complex strategies such as scripting a conversation outline and developing conscious 'rules' for conversations, and carefully monitoring if these are being followed.[10] Autistic people often learn conversational rules, social behaviors, and masking techniques by watching television shows and other media, often learning how to mimic a character's behavior.[11] As masking is often a conscious effort, it can be exhausting for autistic people to mask for an extended period of time. Autistic people have cited social acceptance, the need to get a job, avoiding ostracism, or avoiding verbal or physical abuse as reasons for masking.[12]
Autistic women mask to a greater extent and complexity than autistic men and are often underdiagnosed as a result.[11]
Masking may conceal the person's need for support.[12] Research has found that autistic masking is correlated with depression and suicide.[13][14] Many autistic adults in one survey described profound exhaustion from trying to pretend to be non-autistic.[15] Masking for extended periods of time can result in burnout and emotional trauma.[2][16] Therapies that teach autistic people to mask, such as some forms of applied behavior analysis, are controversial.[17]
Consequences
Little is known about the effects of masking one's negative emotions. In the workplace, masking leads to feelings of dissonance, insincerity, job dissatisfaction, emotional and physical exhaustion, and self-reported health problems.[18] Some have also reported experiencing somatic symptoms and harmful physiological and cognitive effects as a consequence.[5]
^ abcdRadulski, Elizabeth M. (2022). "Conceptualising Autistic Masking, Camouflaging, and Neurotypical Privilege: Towards a Minority Group Model of Neurodiversity". Human Development. 66 (2): 113–127. doi:10.1159/000524122. ISSN 0018-716X. S2CID 248864273.
^ abGarcia, Eric, and Meghan Keane. "How "Unmasking" Leads To Freedom For Autistic And Other Neurodivergent People : Life Kit".NPR.Org, 2022, https://www.npr.org/2022/04/14/1092869514/unmasking-autism-more-inclusive-world.
^Rippy, Marguerite Hailey, "All Our Othellos: Black Monsters and White Masks on the American Screen," Spectacular Shakespeare: Critical Theory and Popular Cinema (2002). Google Books. Accessed 3 Oct. 2022.
^ abcFanon, Frantz (1967). Black Skin, White Masks. New York: Grove Press. pp. 45–52. ISBN0802150845.
^ abcdDe Gere, Dawn (2008). "The face of masking: Examining central tendencies and between-person variability in display management and display rule". ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.
^Cole, Pamela (Dec 1986). "Children's Spontaneous Control of Facial Expression". Child Development. 57 (6): 1309–1321. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1986.tb00459.x.
^Pountney, Laura & Marić, Tomislav (2015). Introducing Anthropology: What Makes Us Human? (1st ed.). Wiley. ISBN9780745699783.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Malchiodi, Cathy. "The Healing Arts". Psychology Today.
^Davis, Teresa (1995). "Gender Differences in Masking Negative Emotions: Ability or Motivation?". Developmental Psychology. 31 (4): 660–667. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.31.4.660.
^Hull, Laura; Petrides, K. V.; Allison, Carrie; Smith, Paula; Baron-Cohen, Simon; Lai, Meng-Chuan; Mandy, William (2017). ""Putting on My Best Normal": Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 47 (8): 2519–2534. doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5. S2CID 254566593. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
^ abHull, Laura; Petrides, K. V.; Mandy, William (2020). "The Female Autism Phenotype and Camouflaging: A Narrative Review". Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 7 (4): 306–317. doi:10.1007/s40489-020-00197-9. S2CID 214314845.
^ abHaelle, Tara (2018). "The Consequences of Compensation in Autism". Neurology Advisor.
^Cage, Eilidh (2017). "Experiences of Autism Acceptance and Mental Health in Autistic Adults". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 49 (2): 473–484. doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3342-7. PMC5807490. PMID 29071566.
^Cassidy, Sarah; Bradley, Louise; Shaw, Rebecca; Baron-Cohen, Simon (2018). "Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults". Molecular Autism. 9: 42. doi:10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4. PMC6069847. PMID 30083306.
^Russo, Francine. "The Costs of Camouflaging Autism". Spectrum News.
^Shaw, S.C.K., Doherty, M., McCowan, S. et al.“Towards a Neurodiversity-Affirmative Approach for an Over-Represented and Under-Recognised Population: Autistic Adults in Outpatient Psychiatry”.J Autism Dev Disord52, 4200–4201 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05670-4
^DeVita-Raeburn, Elizabeth (August 11, 2016). "Is the Most Common Therapy for Autism Cruel?". The Atlantic.
^Fisher, Cynthia; Neal Ashkanasy (2000). "The Emerging Role of Emotions in Work Life: An introduction" (PDF). Journal of Organizational Behavior. 21 (2): 123–129. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(200003)21:2<123::AID-JOB33>3.0.CO;2-8.
Hanson, Rick (March 17, 2011). "Who Is Behind the Mask". Psychology Today. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
+ Sparks, Susan (Oct 20, 2015). "The Masks That We Wear". Psychology Today. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
Andrews, Victoria; et al. (2011). "No Evidence for Subliminal Affective Priming with Emotional Facial Expression Primes". Motivation and Emotion. 35 (1): 33–43. doi:10.1007/s11031-010-9196-3. S2CID 142863112.
Underwood, Marion K. (1997). "Peer Social Status and Children's Understanding of the Expression and Control of Positive and Negative Emotions". Merrill - Palmer Quarterly. 43 (4): 610–34. ProQuest 1428979275.
Hemmesch, Amanda R. (2011). "The Stigmatizing Effects of Facial Masking and Abnormal Bodily Movement on Older Adults' First Impressions of Individuals with Parkinson's Disease". Brandeis University. ProQuest 1428979275.
January 06, 2023
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For the concept in Marxist philosophy see Character mask This entire article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Personality masking personality masking autistic neurodivergent masking news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message In psychology and sociology masking is the process in which an individual camouflages their natural personality or behavior to conform to social pressures abuse or harassment Masking can be strongly influenced by environmental factors such as authoritarian parents rejection and emotional physical or sexual abuse Masking can be a behavior individuals adopt subconsciously as coping mechanisms or a trauma response or it can be a conscious behavior an individual adopts to fit in within perceived societal norms Masking is interconnected with maintaining performative behavior within social structures and cultures 1 Masking is the act of voluntarily concealing one s true personality as if behind a metaphorical physical mask Autistic masking refers to the suppression of autistic or neurodivergent traits to pass within society and is a major focus of neurodiversity research 1 2 Contents 1 History 2 Causes 2 1 Situational contexts 3 Autistic masking 4 Consequences 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory Edit In theater comedy and tragedy masks are used to help the actors portray their emotions similar to how people in society wear a mask to portray emotions that are acceptable Masking has existed since antiquity with authors like Shakespeare referencing it in fiction long before masking was formally defined and studied within psychology 3 Frantz Fanon is credited with defining masking in his 1957 Black Skin White Masks which describes masking behavior in race relations within the stratified post war United States 1 4 Fanon explains how African Americans especially those of low social capital adopted certain behaviors to resemble white people as well as other behaviors intended to please whites and reinforce the white man s higher social status 4 The black man has two dimensions One with his fellows the other with the white man That this self division is a direct result of colonialist subjugation is beyond question Frantz Fanon Black Skins White Masks 4 The term masking was used to describe the act of concealing disgust by Paul Ekman 1972 and Friesen 1969 5 It was also thought of as a learned behavior Developmental studies have shown that this ability begins as early as preschool and improves with age 6 Masking is mostly used to conceal a negative emotion usually sadness frustration and anger with a positive emotion or indifferent affect 5 Causes EditSee also Performativity The social drivers of masking include social discrimination cultural dominance and violence Elizabeth Radulski argues that masking is a cultural performance within Judith Butler s concept of performativity that helps individuals bypass cultural and structural barriers 1 Situational contexts Edit The causes of masking are highly contextual and situational Masking may disguise emotions considered socially inappropriate within a situational context such as anger jealousy or rage Individuals may mask in certain social situations such as job interviews or dates or around people of different cultures identities or ethnicities 5 Since different social situations require different performances individuals often switch masks and exhibit different masking behaviors in different contexts Code switching although associated more with linguistics also refers to the process of changing one s masking behavior around different cultures in social and cultural anthropology 7 Contextual factors including relationships with one s conversation partner social capital class differences location and social setting are all reasons why an individual would express suppress or mask an emotion 8 There is a gendered disparity in masking behavior studies show women mask negative emotions to a greater extent than men According to psychologist Teresa Davis this may be due to the greater social expectation for conformity placed on female gender roles causing women to develop the skill to a greater extent than men during childhood socialization 9 Autistic masking EditSome autistic people have been described as being able to mask or camouflage their signs of autism in order to meet social expectations This may involve suppressing self calming repetitive movements faking a smile in an environment that they find uncomfortable or distressing consciously evaluating their own behavior and mirroring others or choosing not to talk about their special interests Autistic people with conversational difficulties may also use more complex strategies such as scripting a conversation outline and developing conscious rules for conversations and carefully monitoring if these are being followed 10 Autistic people often learn conversational rules social behaviors and masking techniques by watching television shows and other media often learning how to mimic a character s behavior 11 As masking is often a conscious effort it can be exhausting for autistic people to mask for an extended period of time Autistic people have cited social acceptance the need to get a job avoiding ostracism or avoiding verbal or physical abuse as reasons for masking 12 Autistic women mask to a greater extent and complexity than autistic men and are often underdiagnosed as a result 11 Masking may conceal the person s need for support 12 Research has found that autistic masking is correlated with depression and suicide 13 14 Many autistic adults in one survey described profound exhaustion from trying to pretend to be non autistic 15 Masking for extended periods of time can result in burnout and emotional trauma 2 16 Therapies that teach autistic people to mask such as some forms of applied behavior analysis are controversial 17 Consequences EditLittle is known about the effects of masking one s negative emotions In the workplace masking leads to feelings of dissonance insincerity job dissatisfaction emotional and physical exhaustion and self reported health problems 18 Some have also reported experiencing somatic symptoms and harmful physiological and cognitive effects as a consequence 5 See also Edit Psychology portal Psychiatry portalAlter ego Beard companion Closet Jew Closeted Defense mechanism Dramaturgy sociology Facial Action Coding System Identity formation Minority stress Model minority Passing sociology Persona psychology Shibboleth Stigma management UndercoverReferences Edit a b c d Radulski Elizabeth M 2022 Conceptualising Autistic Masking Camouflaging and Neurotypical Privilege Towards a Minority Group Model of Neurodiversity Human Development 66 2 113 127 doi 10 1159 000524122 ISSN 0018 716X S2CID 248864273 a b Garcia Eric and Meghan Keane How Unmasking Leads To Freedom For Autistic And Other Neurodivergent People Life Kit NPR Org 2022 https www npr org 2022 04 14 1092869514 unmasking autism more inclusive world Rippy Marguerite Hailey All Our Othellos Black Monsters and White Masks on the American Screen Spectacular Shakespeare Critical Theory and Popular Cinema 2002 Google Books Accessed 3 Oct 2022 a b c Fanon Frantz 1967 Black Skin White Masks New York Grove Press pp 45 52 ISBN 0802150845 a b c d De Gere Dawn 2008 The face of masking Examining central tendencies and between person variability in display management and display rule ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Cole Pamela Dec 1986 Children s Spontaneous Control of Facial Expression Child Development 57 6 1309 1321 doi 10 1111 j 1467 8624 1986 tb00459 x Pountney Laura amp Maric Tomislav 2015 Introducing Anthropology What Makes Us Human 1st ed Wiley ISBN 9780745699783 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Malchiodi Cathy The Healing Arts Psychology Today Davis Teresa 1995 Gender Differences in Masking Negative Emotions Ability or Motivation Developmental Psychology 31 4 660 667 doi 10 1037 0012 1649 31 4 660 Hull Laura Petrides K V Allison Carrie Smith Paula Baron Cohen Simon Lai Meng Chuan Mandy William 2017 Putting on My Best Normal Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 47 8 2519 2534 doi 10 1007 s10803 017 3166 5 S2CID 254566593 Retrieved 1 July 2022 a b Hull Laura Petrides K V Mandy William 2020 The Female Autism Phenotype and Camouflaging A Narrative Review Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 7 4 306 317 doi 10 1007 s40489 020 00197 9 S2CID 214314845 a b Haelle Tara 2018 The Consequences of Compensation in Autism Neurology Advisor Cage Eilidh 2017 Experiences of Autism Acceptance and Mental Health in Autistic Adults Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 49 2 473 484 doi 10 1007 s10803 017 3342 7 PMC 5807490 PMID 29071566 Cassidy Sarah Bradley Louise Shaw Rebecca Baron Cohen Simon 2018 Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults Molecular Autism 9 42 doi 10 1186 s13229 018 0226 4 PMC 6069847 PMID 30083306 Russo Francine The Costs of Camouflaging Autism Spectrum News Shaw S C K Doherty M McCowan S et al Towards a Neurodiversity Affirmative Approach for an Over Represented and Under Recognised Population Autistic Adults in Outpatient Psychiatry J Autism Dev Disord 52 4200 4201 2022 https doi org 10 1007 s10803 022 05670 4 DeVita Raeburn Elizabeth August 11 2016 Is the Most Common Therapy for Autism Cruel The Atlantic Fisher Cynthia Neal Ashkanasy 2000 The Emerging Role of Emotions in Work Life An introduction PDF Journal of Organizational Behavior 21 2 123 129 doi 10 1002 SICI 1099 1379 200003 21 2 lt 123 AID JOB33 gt 3 0 CO 2 8 Hall Karyn 2012 Wearing Masks Psych Central Retrieved March 1 2018 Hanson Rick March 17 2011 Who Is Behind the Mask Psychology Today Retrieved March 1 2018 Sparks Susan Oct 20 2015 The Masks That We Wear Psychology Today Retrieved March 1 2018 Andrews Victoria et al 2011 No Evidence for Subliminal Affective Priming with Emotional Facial Expression Primes Motivation and Emotion 35 1 33 43 doi 10 1007 s11031 010 9196 3 S2CID 142863112 Underwood Marion K 1997 Peer Social Status and Children s Understanding of the Expression and Control of Positive and Negative Emotions Merrill Palmer Quarterly 43 4 610 34 ProQuest 1428979275 Hemmesch Amanda R 2011 The Stigmatizing Effects of Facial Masking and Abnormal Bodily Movement on Older Adults First Impressions of Individuals with Parkinson s Disease Brandeis University ProQuest 1428979275 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Masking personality amp oldid 1131478202, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
