I’ve heard both terms be used before, but isn’t it just putting on a fake face in order to deal with people? I might be wrong, but that’s what i’ve understood about it
In: Other
Masking is a changing your personality to fit a situation where you don’t believe your natural personality would be accepted.
Code switching is changing the way you act to match a given situation.
Masking is a distinct subset of code switching.
I have a group of close friends I play sports with – when I’m with them, I talk mostly about sports things, and in ways that fit in with the kind of relationship and shared experiences we have.
I also have a group of friends I D&D with. When we hang out, I talk mostly about game stuff, and in ways that again fit in with our relationship and shared experiences.
These are both genuine natural aspects of my personality, jumping between them is code switching, but neither is masking.
When I’m spending time with coworkers, we talk about work things in a manner appropriate for the work environment I have.
This personality does not feel like my true self, and exists just so my employment goes smoothing. Putting on this persona is masking (and also code switching)
I don’t ask my D&D friends if they saw last night’s hockey game, but that’s because I know the answer, not because I’m uncomfortable showing my sports side to them.
I don’t tell my coworkers about last night’s D&D game, but that’s because I want to keep their opinion of me focused on work stuff and not colored by what I do outside of work.
Latest Answers