The role of culture in emotion

Question 1

evidence of cultural effects on emotion

Answer 1

 In a cross-cultural study (Boiger, 2013), ppts indicated a range of anger and shame situations, their appraisals and action tendencies as well as anger and shame intensity
 A bottom up classification program was used to identify types of anger
 The dominant Japanese type of anger was characterized by nodding and smiling, as wel as rumination- which hurts relationships least
 A major American type of anger was strongly associated with blaming the other person and direct expression

Question 2

part 2 - evidence of cultural effects on emotion

Answer 2

 In a series of studies, emotions in Japanese contexts appear to be understood as between people, whereas in American context emotions are understood as primarily within people
 Analysis of tv interviews of Olympic athletes revealed that when asked about their relationships, Japanese athletes used significantly more emotion words than American athletes
 Moreover, Japanese observers inferred more emotion when viewing athletes pictured with teammates, while American observers inferred more emotion for athletes pictured alone.

Question 3

part 3- evidence on cultural effects on emotion

Answer 3

 Chentsova-Dutton and Tsai (2010) primed ppts either the individual self or a family member, and then measured their emotions in response to a film or piece of music European Americans rated their emotion as more intense after individual self-prime, while Asian Americans rated their emotions as more intense after family prime
 The findings suggest that for European Americans emotion is individually orientated and linked to independent conception fo self, whereas for Asian Americans emotion is relationship-orientated and linked to interdependent conception of self

Question 4

cultural differences in neurobiological substrates

Answer 4

 An Fmri study with Chinese, Asian America, and European American ppts recorded different correlates of emotion during emotional film clips
 In Chinese, feeling strength was associated more with activation of the ventral than the dorsal anterior insula; in European Americans, feeling strength was associated more with activation of the dorsal than the ventral anterior insula
 The bicultural east Asian group showed an intermediate pattern of activation, with brain activity equally divided between the ventral and the dorsal anterior insula

Question 5

The cultural logic to emotion

Answer 5

 Proposed by Leersnyder et al., 2012
 Emotions reflect and negotiate peoples self-definition as well as social relationships (i.e, emotions is relationship engagements)
 Different ways of being and relating are valued in different cultural context, so the emotions that are valued also differ
 Hence, emotions that are helpful in achieving the culturally valued self and relationship goals are encouraged and rewarded. As a result, people experience these emotions more frequently and more intensely.