ORCID Identifier(s)

ORCID 0000-0002-0450-3938

Graduation Semester and Year

Fall 2025

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Michelle Martin-Raugh

Second Advisor

Jared B. Kenworthy

Third Advisor

Logan L. Watts

Abstract

Emotional labor in an interview context remains under-researched, despite its influence on the impressions formed of the applicant. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of emotional labor strategies (e.g., deep acting and surface acting) in interview settings. Specifically, this research examines the relationships between emotional labor strategies and key interview outcomes: interview related anxiety, interview self-efficacy, and holistic interview performance. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: training videos depicting surface acting, deep acting, or a neutral control video on general video-based skills training. In a subsequent mock interview, participants were instructed to use a specific emotional labor strategy or given no instruction, followed by a questionnaire about their interview experiences. Based on Conservation of Resources theory and Job Demands-Resources theory, it was hypothesized that deep acting would yield more favorable outcomes than surface acting or control. However, the emotional labor condition did not significantly affect any outcome variables. Possible explanations include measurement limitations, participant cognitive load, and constrained interview design. These findings highlight the need for further research to better understand the complexities of emotional labor strategy implementation in realistic interview settings.

Keywords

Emotional labor, Deep acting, Surface acting, Impression management, Interview performance, Interview-related anxiety, Interview self-efficacy

Disciplines

Industrial and Organizational Psychology

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Available for download on Tuesday, December 14, 2027

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