“Surface acting” refers to the type of emotional communication that involves covering up your true feelings while you put on a false front. Typically, in surface acting, you're trying to cover up such negative emotions as anger or frustration because expressing them would get you in trouble.
Hard-hearted people sometimes hide what they feel to protect themselves. It's a defense mechanism against potentially being vulnerable. Having a hard time feeling. They aren't very good at listening to themselves, so they aren't in touch with their mental, emotional, or physical states.
While the chemistry is sizzling, you haven't been able to connect with him emotionally. He doesn't speak to you about himself, his dreams, his background, or his past. The guy is a closed book as far as you are concerned. If these things define your relationship, it is a sign he is not serious about you.
Contextual factors including relationships with one's conversation partner, social capital (class) differences, location, and social setting are all reasons why an individual would express, suppress, or mask an emotion.
When upset, women are more likely to express their feelings directly and to seek the support of friends and family, whereas men might hide their emotions or withdraw. Men often feel that they need to be self-reliant and provide for their loved ones, so it is not appropriate to express their emotions.
Conceal the extent of your feelings for him.
This may make him confess his feelings for you sooner. Give him a chance to miss you or wonder what you're doing. Allow him the opportunity to text or call you first. If he asks you what you're doing over the weekend, be honest, but make your plans sound exciting and rich.
Another clear sign he likes you is if he is actively trying to hang out with you, or help you, or find out more about you. There are also indicators like eye contact or compliments, and showing that he's interested in your physical appearance, or who you are as a person.
Let him know that you understand that he isn't ready yet. Don't put pressure on him or try to make him fall in love with you. It's better if he comes up with his own decision. While he's taking his time, keep your cool and make sure to take care of yourself.
The key tell is if he's actively initiating dates and making plans, according to Battle. That's usually a sign that he genuinely likes you and wants to keep connecting, and there may actually be something there.
Things You Should Know
Look for signs in his body language like eye contact and leaning in towards you while talking. He'll also initiate more physical touch between you. Study his behavior, including the time between text responses and how jealous he seems when other guys are mentioned.
When he's falling in love, everything is likely to become about her. He can't stop thinking about her and would rather be spending time with her than doing anything else. He may feel scared about the relationship and where it's headed, or he might just have a comfortable feeling about the entire thing.
Alexithymia is when an individual has difficulty identifying, describing, and expressing emotions. This term was coined by Peter Sifneos in 1972, and it comes from the roots of Greek words that literally mean, “lack of words for emotion.”
Reticent means either quiet or restrained. If you're reticent about your feelings, you like to keep them to yourself, and you're probably quiet in rowdy groups where everyone is talking over each other. The original meaning of reticent describes someone who doesn't like to talk.
Fake emotion refers to the process of emotional interaction that people show positive or negative emotions in disguise to amplify or suppress the original emotions. Fake emotion is the result of a strategic choice. The emotion displayed may not happen at the moment, but sometimes it can be persuasive.