Psychological Analysis of Young Adults’ Social Emotions under Group Emotional Pressure

Abstract

Group emotional pressure, defined as the emotional social pressure perceived by individuals within group contexts, has become a critical variable for understanding contemporary young adults’ social emotional difficulties. This paper first delineates the concept of group emotional pressure and systematically reviews analytical frameworks including social comparison theory, emotional contagion theory, and Le Bon’s group psychology theory. It then reveals three core psychological mechanisms through which group emotional pressure shapes young adults’ social emotions: anxiety arousal triggered by social comparison, emotional assimilation driven by emotional contagion, and self-suppression under conformity pressure. The findings indicate that group emotional pressure exerts a dual effect on young adults’ social emotions: moderate pressure can facilitate social connection and emotional resonance, whereas excessive pressure leads to negative outcomes such as social anxiety, collective loneliness, and emotional exhaustion. On this basis, the paper proposes adaptive pathways including cognitive reappraisal, emotional boundary construction, and digital detox, thereby offering a theoretical reference for understanding and intervening in young adults’ social emotional issues.