Emotions are not a private matter: Introduction to a special issue on emotions in interpersonal relationships

Abstract

Although emotions are frequently treated as highly intimate experiences, much empirical evidence indicates that they primarily play interpersonal functions. Here, we briefly review this evidence and argue that the relationship between emotions and social interactions may be bi-directional (that is, emotions may both influence and be influenced by social factors). The papers included in this special issue illustrate this bidirectionality with examples coming from studies on social judgments, emotional contagion, emotional regulation, empathy, and emotion vocalization. Taken together, these papers show that emotions and interpersonal relationships are inextricably intertwined.