Sentimentality Apr 2026

: Some psychologists suggest that excessive sentimentality can act as a defense mechanism , creating a "bulwark" against more painful or complex emotions like deep-seated anger, shame, or grief.

Exaggerated, self-indulgent, or meretricious emotion [2, 6]. sentimentality

: A common standard for judging sentimentality is whether the emotion is earned . Writing is considered "sentimental" in the negative sense when it asks for a large emotional response from the audience without providing the narrative weight to support it. Sentiment vs. Sentimentality or grief. Exaggerated

Modern analysis often separates these two terms to clarify their value: Characteristic Positive/Neutral or meretricious emotion [2