I don't know how much I actually agree though because Vulcans very specifically and intentionally do not express or react to their emotions, which is the very definition of repression. So, semantically, I just don't think that saying that Spock's restraint is repression, while other Vulcans' restraint is control holds up.
I can see the argument that Spock sometimes just tries to pretend he doesn't feel things instead of actually dealing with those feelings, accepting them, and through that method not allowing them to control him. But I actually think that Vulcans, in general, do a lot more repressing of their emotions than controlling them. (I mean, the entire concept of pon farr is supposed to basically be backlash from their normal refusal to deal with their feelings!) As such I don't think Spock's fundamental way of dealing is inherently unique. I mean, it took Amanda dying and Spock having a breakdown before Sarek would even admit that he loved his wife. The way I see it, you have to express an emotion on some level to control it in the way that I assume that poster was outlining. Because if the only control you're exerting over an emotion is to restrain it, well, that's just another way of saying repression.
Though I do agree that the waaaay early discovery of Romulans and their connection to Vulcans could have had a lot of affects on the kind of prejudice he faced.
Re: it would be awesome to actually complete my thought!
I don't know how much I actually agree though because Vulcans very specifically and intentionally do not express or react to their emotions, which is the very definition of repression. So, semantically, I just don't think that saying that Spock's restraint is repression, while other Vulcans' restraint is control holds up.
I can see the argument that Spock sometimes just tries to pretend he doesn't feel things instead of actually dealing with those feelings, accepting them, and through that method not allowing them to control him. But I actually think that Vulcans, in general, do a lot more repressing of their emotions than controlling them. (I mean, the entire concept of pon farr is supposed to basically be backlash from their normal refusal to deal with their feelings!) As such I don't think Spock's fundamental way of dealing is inherently unique. I mean, it took Amanda dying and Spock having a breakdown before Sarek would even admit that he loved his wife. The way I see it, you have to express an emotion on some level to control it in the way that I assume that poster was outlining. Because if the only control you're exerting over an emotion is to restrain it, well, that's just another way of saying repression.
Though I do agree that the waaaay early discovery of Romulans and their connection to Vulcans could have had a lot of affects on the kind of prejudice he faced.