Weakness or Strength? The Perceived and Actual Utility of Expressing Sadness in Inter Group Context

Abstract

Mass media allows groups to convey messages to many outgroup members simultaneously. Unfortunately, such messages are often overlooked, hindering intergroup communication. This is unfortunate, since maintaining openness to outgroup messages is a key component in advancing communication and promoting group goals and intergroup reconciliation. One factor that influences openness to other groups is the expression of emotions. This research examines the impact of personal sadness expressions depicting one's misfortune, on openness between groups in power asymmetry conditions. Across three studies, we explore both expectations and actual responses to such emotional expressions in intergroup contexts. Study 1 examined individuals' expectations about how they would respond to a sad outgroup member themselves. Study 2 assessed how participants believed members of an outgroup would respond to a member of their own group expressing personal sadness. In both cases, participants expected sadness to foster greater openness only when expressed by a low power group member. Yet surprisingly, in Study 3, we found that actual reported responses revealed a similar increase in openness following outgroup sadness expression for both low and high power groups. These results suggest that there may be a disjunction between expected and actual social consequences of expressing sadness in intergroup contexts. While people anticipate that sadness will only increase openness when coming from a low power group member, actual responses suggest a broader receptiveness. The results underscore the nuanced social utility of personal emotional expression as a tool for increasing openness to the outgroup.