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Emotion in the Workplace: A Reappraisal

Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada.

Ronald H. Humphrey

McGregor School, Antioch University, 800 Livermore Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387-1609.

Although the experience of work is saturated with emotion, research has generally neglected the impact of everyday emotions on organizational life. Further, organizational scholars and practitioners frequently appear to assume that emotionality is the antithesis of rationality and, thus, frequently hold a pejorative view of emotion. This has led to four institutionalized mechanisms for regulating the experience and expression of emotion in the workplace: (1) neutralizing, (2) buffering, (3) prescribing, and (4) normalizing emotion. In contrast to this perspective, we argue that emotionality and rationality are interpenetrated, emotions are an integral and inseparable part of organizational life, and emotions are often functional for the organization. This argument is illustrated by applications to motivation, leadership, and group dynamics.

Key Words: emotion • rationality • motivation • leadership • group dynamics

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