False Beliefs About Emotions
Introduction
False beliefs about emotions are inaccurate assumptions people hold about:
- what emotions mean
- how they function
- how they should be expressed.
These beliefs shape behaviour, especially during organisational change, when uncertainty, fear, pressure, hope, etc are common.
False beliefs are often subconscious and based on upbringing, cultural norms and/or past work experiences. Common examples include:
1. “Emotions are irrational and unprofessional.”
Reality: Emotions provide critical data about needs, values, risks and motivation. They guide decision-making and shape engagement.
2. “Strong leaders don’t show emotions.”
Reality: Leaders who acknowledge emotions build trust, psychological safety and credibility. Appropriate emotional expression enhances—not weakens—leadership.
3. “Negative emotions are bad and should be suppressed.”
Reality: Emotions like fear, anger and frustration serve as signals. Suppressing them leads to disengagement, lateness of warning signals, conflict and burnout.
4. “If I feel it, it must be true.”
Reality: Emotions reflect perceptions, not always reality. They should be acknowledged, then tested against facts.
5. “Talking about emotions will make things worse.”
Reality: Structured emotional dialogue reduces resistance, increases clarity and prevents escalation.
6. “Everyone experiences emotions the same way.”
Reality: Emotional triggers vary between individuals and cultures. Change leaders must avoid assuming a uniform emotional response.
Why Identifying False Beliefs Matters
When false beliefs remain unexamined, people operate from fear, avoidance or defensiveness.
Identifying them allows people to reframe their emotional experiences, increasing resilience, clarity, cooperation, etc.
Acceptability of emotions
“… People hold beliefs about the acceptability of emotions. People vary in the degree to which they believe that experiencing and expressing negative feelings is acceptable……These beliefs may lead to the avoidance of emotions, which prevents the individual developing self-awareness, self-understanding, and, hence, the ability to take care of oneself appropriately. Growing up in an environment where the expression of difficulties or negative feelings are met with punishment, or lack of sympathy, has been suggested as a potential cause of the development of beliefs about the unacceptability of emotions…”
Hugo Alberts, et al, 2025
Malleability of emotions
Some people believe that emotions are outside personal control and any attempt to regulate them is futile. However,
“…People who believe that emotions are less changeable have fewer positive emotions or negative emotions, decreased psychological well-being; all lower perceive emotional regulation self-efficacy and create higher levels of depression…”
Hugo Alberts, et al, 2025
On the other hand, people who believe that emotions are changeable will display a more assertive and active pattern of coping.