To conform or not to conform? An examination of perceived emotional display rule norms among international sojourners

With increased globalization, more individuals temporarily leave home to work and study in foreign countries. These sojourners are confronted with societal norms different from their home cultures. The present study investigated the extent to which international student sojourners perceive differences in emotional display norms between their home and host cultures, as well as the influence of these perceptions on their international adjustment. Although an overlap between perceived display of emotions by sojourners and host nationals was not related to adjustment, a “guest” effect was found. Specifically, international student participants reported that one should display less emotion in the host culture than their home cultures despite the perceived acceptance for greater display of emotion in the host culture than in the sojourners’ home cultures. Future research directions and practical applications for organizations sending individuals abroad are discussed.