Some thoughts, off the cuff:

When we were stationed at Fort Drum, my daughter once commented to me that as soon as I put on my boots, I "was already at work." I noticed the same thing about my husband, when he was still in the Corps...when he was in uniform, his eyes became a shade greyer, and his jaw actually got bigger.

I expect such changes in a man. In my experience, they tend to compartmentalize more. But not so much, women.

So I was surprised to learn that I had a game face - that I had a whole different personality for my colleagues than I did for my friends. And even then...it depended on the colleagues. I was different with civilians than I was with troops - it didn't matter if I was in whites or cammies.

I know we all talk to children differently than adults; men differently than women; intimates differently than aquaintainces; cats differently than humans...status is everything. hee.

workplace relations...I dunno. We spend hours and hours with colleagues...sometimes more time than with our own families...and yet, we ( I ) am compelled to keep them at arm's length. There's a certain forced intimacy about the workplace, and we sometimes find ourselves in relationships with folks we would never befriend if given the choice.

I guess I'm wondering if the faces we put on are a part of a coping mechanism. Rituals, Visualizations (If I take charge, I am in charge; If I dress sexy; I am sexy...), etc.