Emotional expression as a powerful strategy: how students use emotions to manage their relationships with supervisors

The study explores the interpersonal dimension of student-supervisor relationships within Chinese higher education, focusing on emotional interactions and the strategies students employ to manage these relationships. Using an exploratory qualitative design, 18 master’s and doctoral students were interviewed to understand the range of emotional interactions and the intentional use of emotional expression as a strategic tool. Findings reveal two predominant strategies: emotion management, where emotional expression is used to maintain the relationship while achieving personal goals, and emotion manipulation, a more calculated approach prioritizing personal objectives over relational harmony. Additionally, the study reveals four groups of emotional expression strategic behaviors that students utilize to process their emotional displays, offering a in-depth perspective on the mechanisms of emotional strategy use. The study underscores the complexity of emotional dynamics in academic relationships and its implications for student and supervisor interactions.