Implicit displays of emotional vulnerability: A cross-cultural analysis of “unacceptable” embarrassment-related emotions in the communication within male groups

Abstract

AbstractOne of the previously widespread sociolinguistic theories about gender differences was related to differences in the expression of emotion. Women’s language was stereotypically associated with emotional expressivity, whereas male language was connected to a lack of affect and toughness evincing (cf. Eckert, Penelope, and Sally McConnell-Ginet 1992). With regard to gender differences in the expression of emotion, in this article, I provide a brief overview of the existing research findings pertaining to males’ expressions of emotion, followed by an examination of embarrassment-related expressions of emotions and the role of paralinguistic cues in this respect. To accomplish this, I adopt a contrastive focus based on analysis of male talk in Ukraine and Austria that will enable the identification of the likely differences and similarities in expressing emotional vulnerability.