Symbolism

During the family dinner scene, Riley's depressed emotions caused tension between her and her father. Riley's emotional state seems to be triggered by the absence of Joy and Sadness. As the family engages in a conversation, the inner workings of each family member's mind become unveiled. In Riley's mother headquarter, Fear, Joy, and Disgust seem to submit to Sadness. This symbolizes the common assumption that mothers are empathetic and emotionally sensitive, explaining why Sadness takes the lead. On the other hand, Riley's father has anger as the dominant emotion, which is consistent with the perception of fathers as a strong  and commanding figure. The way that various family members are assigned with main lead emotions serves as a representation of societal expectation about gender roles and family dynamics.