>> Her most common playmate in most installments is her brother (in this series a few years younger). Beyond that, she seems to get along well with her father and uncle. However, if she doesn't commonly have same-age playmates that would affect her social skills somewhat.<<
Wednesday may also be used to her family accommodating her in ways she doesn't really notice, until other people don't and relations break down as a result.
>>I think of "inappropriate affect" as a social/cultural thing: smiling while apologizing or cheering at a funeral are inappropriate social behaviors in mainstream American culture, though they may be a perfectly accurate representation of someone's feelings in-the-moment.<<
Exactly. They're entirely about other people's expectations. Folks like Wednesday, who rarely match anyone else's expectations, are highly prone to say, "Fine, fuck you all, I'll stay alone where I can be myself."
>> If emotional expression garners an unpleasant response from others, than the person may end up hiding them.<<
Very true, although Wednesday doesn't seem to struggle with repression the way most people do with that approach.
>> Given Wednesdays unconventional interests and preferences, she may have just put most of her feelings where people won't use them as an excuse to bother her.<<
Possibly true, although look at how she handled Nero's loss: deciding not to cry because it didn't change anything, rather than because it made her a target. That also strongly implies she doesn't experience emotions the usual way, since most people find crying a relief of pressure -- that's why it exists.
>> (The whole "Women are good at emotional labor" thing can't be helping, either.) <<
Yeah, that premise lasts a fast 5 seconds in Wednesday's presence. Or mine. Well, I'm not a woman, but people often think I am, and then are surprised and disappointed when I refuse to do or am glaringly bad at things I told them so. Or when I jump up and hit things.
Thoughts
Wednesday may also be used to her family accommodating her in ways she doesn't really notice, until other people don't and relations break down as a result.
>>I think of "inappropriate affect" as a social/cultural thing: smiling while apologizing or cheering at a funeral are inappropriate social behaviors in mainstream American culture, though they may be a perfectly accurate representation of someone's feelings in-the-moment.<<
Exactly. They're entirely about other people's expectations. Folks like Wednesday, who rarely match anyone else's expectations, are highly prone to say, "Fine, fuck you all, I'll stay alone where I can be myself."
>> If emotional expression garners an unpleasant response from others, than the person may end up hiding them.<<
Very true, although Wednesday doesn't seem to struggle with repression the way most people do with that approach.
>> Given Wednesdays unconventional interests and preferences, she may have just put most of her feelings where people won't use them as an excuse to bother her.<<
Possibly true, although look at how she handled Nero's loss: deciding not to cry because it didn't change anything, rather than because it made her a target. That also strongly implies she doesn't experience emotions the usual way, since most people find crying a relief of pressure -- that's why it exists.
>> (The whole "Women are good at emotional labor" thing can't be helping, either.) <<
Yeah, that premise lasts a fast 5 seconds in Wednesday's presence. Or mine. Well, I'm not a woman, but people often think I am, and then are surprised and disappointed when I refuse to do or am glaringly bad at things I told them so. Or when I jump up and hit things.