Which term involves replacing one emotion with the expression of another?

• A. Interpersonal Influence
• B. Display Rules
• C. Micro-expressions
• D. Mask

Answer: (D)

Masking emotions is the idea of replacing what you truly feel with a different expression. In social situations, people may wear a mask to hide their genuine feelings and present an emotion that fits the moment or others’ expectations. The term that best fits this is mask, because it captures putting on a façade to conceal real emotion and display something else. For example, smiling and saying you’re fine when you’re actually upset. Display rules are about what expressions are acceptable, not about substituting one feeling for another. Micro-expressions reveal genuine emotions in brief flashes, not deliberate concealment. Interpersonal influence involves shaping others’ responses, not replacing your own emotion with another display.