The true self in the work place

Psychologists have argued for decades for the importance of expressing emotions honestly. A new study has found that expressing inauthentic emotions and values leads to feelings of “distress” and “moral impurity.”

It seems that there is some kind of demand for moral purity within us that we cannot ignore if we want to be happy, and as small a thing as pretending to be interested in something that does not really interest us is enough to set it off.

The resulting sense of impurity often motivates good deeds.

One of the researchers behind the study, Dr Kouchaki commented, “our work shows that feeling inauthentic is not a fleeting or cursory phenomenon — it cuts to the very essence of what it means to be a moral person.”

People experienced lowered self-esteem after being inauthentic, and felt less cooperative and less generous.

They even expressed the urge to use hygiene products to wash away the feeling of impurity.

The work place is often the leading cause of inauthentic behaviour.

“In order to be responsive to various demands from customers, co-workers, and upper management, individuals may find themselves behaving in ways that are not consistent with their ‘true self,’ said Dr Kouchaki.

When dealing with customers or clients, employees are often required to use stock phrases and styles of interaction, and to ignore their real feelings and emotions if they conflict with this.

Research showed that this inauthenticity often characterises interactions with those above one in the employment chain.

This yet another confirmation of the power of the human conscience, of the existence of a true human essence which is concerned with honesty and morality, which humanistic psychologists refer to as the “true” or “real” self.

It is also a stark reminder of the tendencies of society to alienate the true self.

References

Gino, F., Kouchaki, M., & Galinsky, A. D. (2015). The Moral Virtue of Authenticity How Inauthenticity Produces Feelings of Immorality and Impurity.Psychological science, published on line.