Prohibition on Expressing Feelings Test

People who question whether their emotions are acceptable to show may use this assessment to examine beliefs about restraint in everyday communication. The Prohibition on Expressing Feelings Test is intended for self-reflection by readers who want to understand beliefs about emotional expression. Social rules around emotional expression can shape personal openness, relationships, and perceived effects on performance and communication in everyday life and close relationships.

What This Assessment Explores

It examines beliefs about hiding emotions; higher scores indicate stronger inhibition. The emotional expression questionnaire reflects attitudes, not personality.

• General Prohibition (5-20) measures inhibition across emotions: Low inhibition 5-9; Moderate inhibition 10-14; High inhibition 15-20.
• Fear (5-20) measures fear inhibition: Low inhibition 5-9; Moderate inhibition 10-14; High inhibition 15-20.
• Sadness (5-20) measures sadness inhibition: Low inhibition 5-9; Moderate inhibition 10-14; High inhibition 15-20.
• Prohibition on Expressing Feelings (25-100) measures overall inhibition: Low inhibition 25-49; Moderate inhibition 50-74; High inhibition 75-100.
• Joy (5-20) measures joy inhibition; higher scores may indicate difficulty expressing positive emotions: Low restriction 5-9; Moderate restriction 10-14; High restriction 15-20.
• Anger (5-20) measures anger inhibition: Low inhibition 5-9; Moderate inhibition 10-14; High inhibition 15-20.

Methodology and Scientific Basis

Each statement presents a belief about showing or discussing emotion, and the respondent selects one of four ordered choices, moving from definite or probable agreement to probable or definite disagreement. The items address social judgments, interpersonal consequences, perceived weakness, and beliefs that emotion interferes with competence or success. Results aggregate the responses into an overall profile and separate emotional domains; the questionnaire does not document a more detailed item-weighting rule.

The online version is attributed to James J. Gross, John D. Mayer, and Peter Salovey, but its exact publication or adaptation relationship is not specified. Kholmogorova and Garanyan (1999) provide a related conceptual reference for beliefs about emotional expression; this questionnaire is not presented as their instrument or an adaptation of it. Juretic and Zivcic-Becirevic (2013) support the focus on beliefs about emotional expression and positive emotion. Gross (2014) supplies an emotion-regulation framework, while Gross and John (1997) distinguish emotional expressivity from the present questionnaire’s beliefs about whether feelings are acceptable to display.

The items represent attitudes toward restricting emotional expression rather than a direct record of behaviour. Interpretation depends on current context, self-awareness, and social-desirability bias.