Image 1: Grey’s Anatomy, Doctor-Patient Romance (Izzie Stevens and Denny Duquette)
One common place we see emotion management is in television shows, particularly in dramas or when romance is involved. In The Managed Heart, Arlie Hochschild writes that “acts of emotion management are not simply private acts [but] are used in exchanges under the guidance of feeling rules,” which is especially true in the workplace (27). In Grey’s Anatomy, Izzie Stevens—a surgical resident—falls in love with Denny Duquette—a patient awaiting a heart transplant—and pursues her feelings, thus disobeying hospital policy. When Izzie interacts with Denny in front of others, she must pretend he is only a patient; she is forced to manage her emotions and abide by feeling rules through surface acting to avoid getting in trouble, such as by pretending to forget Denny’s name. In the image above, Izzie and Denny share a private moment before his heart transplant, though he dies shortly after this occurs. When this happens, Izzie can no longer act like Denny is ‘just another patient,’ and she breaks down crying in his hospital bed, revealing their relationship to the doctors around her and quitting her job as a result.
Image Link: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/seconds-news-photo/93764106?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=iptcurl
Image 2: One Tree Hill, Cheating With His Girlfriend’s Best Friend (Lucas Cheats on Brooke with Peyton)
In One Tree Hill, Brooke Davis and Lucas Scott embark on a relationship despite her best friend, Peyton Sawyer, also having feelings for Lucas. Peyton and Lucas enter a secret relationship while Lucas continues to date Brooke, a heartbreaking betrayal. In the scene above, Lucas and Peyton must pretend like there is nothing going on between them and manage their lust and care for each other so Brooke is not suspicious. When Lucas and Peyton are in private, however, they continue their relationship without the pressure of abiding by feeling rules to protect Brooke’s feelings. Brooke eventually finds out and dumps Lucas, but later in the series the two get back together, having a successful relationship until Lucas cheats on Brooke with Peyton again.
Image Link: https://winestainedlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/1×13-2.jpg?w=598&h=332