<P> Masking is a process in which an individual changes or "masks" their natural personality to conform to social pressures, abuse, and / or harassment . Some examples of masking are a single overly dominant temperament, or humor, two incongruent temperaments, or displaying three of the four main temperaments within the same individual . Masking can be strongly influenced by environmental factors such as authoritarian parents, rejection, and emotional, physical, or sexual abuse . An individual may not even know he or she is wearing a mask because it is a behavior that can take many forms . </P> <P> Masking should not be confused with masking behavior which is to mentally block feelings of suffering as a survival mechanism . </P>

One's psychological mask or hides one's real personality