Culture and Emotion

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Culture and Emotion
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What is Emotion?

• General Psychology
• Emotion is a set of biologically prewired
  internal processes of self-maintenance and
  self-regulation (Ekman, et al.)

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A cultural psychology perspective (Markus
Kitayama, 1994)

• Emotion is also viewed as a product of social
  life
• Can serve as interfaces between the inside and
  the outside
• Emotions are an assortment of socially shared and
  collectively enacted scripts (Campos, Campos
  Bartlett, 1989)
• Example Compliments and praise in
  American-English scripts (Wierzbicka, 1994).
• Can accomplish individual collectively shared
  goals.

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Self-focused Emotions (independent self)

• Self-focused emotions (Ex anger, frustration,
  pride)
• are emotions that make reference to the
  individuals internal attributes (ones own needs,
  goals, desires, and abilities)
• Expressing these emotions further highlights
  self-defining internal attributes.
• Serves to maintain, affirm, and bolster the
  construal of the self as an autonomous entity.
• Emotions result from blocking the satisfaction or
  from the confirmation of ones internal
  attributes.
• Emotions that are incompatible with an autonomous
  sense of self can quickly be transformed to one
  that is more compatible (Tangney, Wagner,
  Fletcher, Gramzow, 92)

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Intersubjective feelings (interdependent self
Markus Kitayama, 1994)

• Emotions that are directed towards the other and
  the self-in-relation to others (Ex feelings of
  mutual connection, modesty, sympathy, shame).
• These emotions serve to affirm ones
  interconnectedness with others.
• The more persistent emotions are typically
  experienced in the presence of others.
• Emotional event requires another person for its
  evocation, experience, and expression.

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Requiring the presence of others

• Levenson, Ekman, Heider, and Friesen (1992) West
  Sumatrans (the Minangkabau)
• Can recognize and replicate facial expression,
  but doing so did not produce corresponding
  emotional experience.
• The evocation of strong
• emotions require the
• presence of others

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Cross-Cultural Comparisons (Markus Kitayama,
1994)

• Americans college students
• High positive correlation
• generic positive feelings (relaxed, calm, happy,
  and elated) with
• feelings of personal achievement (pride,
  feelings of superiority, and feeling like being
  at the top of the world)
• Moderate positive correlation
• Generic positive feelings and feelings of
  interpersonal connection (feelings of connection,
  friendly feelings)
• Japanese college students
• High positive correlation
• Generic positive feelings and feelings of
  interpersonal connection (feelings of connection,
  friendly feelings)
• High positive correlation
• Negative general feelings (not relaxed, not calm)
  and feelings of personal achievement

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Other studies

• Korea-Canada What does the word we signify?
  (Choi Choi, 1990)
• Korean group 55 referred to affection,
  intimacy, comfort, and acceptance
• Canadians only 15 make reference to affective
  bonds.
• Replicating Ashs (1952) conformity experiment in
  Japan (Smith Bond, 1993)
• Reviewing 24 studies revealed that in Japan,
  results dependent on whether confederate was an
  in-group (will conform) or an out-group (will not
  conform).
• Conformity is not necessarily undesirable
• Conformity can bring about feelings of mutual
  connection when important others are involved.

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Early Socialization of Positive Emotions(Schore,
1994)
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Early Socialization of Intersubjectivity

• Japanese mother-infant interaction (Caudill,
  1960)
• Cross-cultural comparison

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Concluding statements(Markus Kitayama, 1994)

• Most good and bad feelings depend on
  extensive emotional socialization.
• Fulfilling culturally prescribed goals feels
  good, not fulfilling these goals can be
  anxiety-producing.
• Through socialization, people experience more
  frequently, emotions that reflect the culturally
  prescribed goals.
• This process can also give rise to indigenous
  emotions (Ex feelings of mutual dependence).
• Being moral according to ones group, feeling
  good, and being a culturally meaningful self are
  all intimately connected.