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Culture and Emotion: Why do people in different countries respond to the same emotions in very different ways?
The expression of emotion is a behavior intended to convey an emotional state or attitude, which may be verbal or nonverbal, and may or may not be accompanied by self-awareness. Emotional expressions include facial movements such as smiling or frowning, simple behaviors such as crying or laughing, or more complex behaviors such as writing a letter or giving a gift. Although individuals have some conscious control over their emotional expression, they are not necessarily consciously aware of their inner emotions or affective states when expressing emotions. Researchers in psychology have proposed a number of different and often competing theoretical models to explain emotions and emotional expressions, dating back to Charles Darwin's discussion of emotions as an evolved faculty.
The experience of emotion and its expression in various ways, such as voice, facial expressions and body language, are key to human communication.
Across different cultural backgrounds, a society's cultural norms and beliefs also influence and shape the emotional expressions of its members. Therefore, an expression that is appropriate and important in one culture may be considered taboo in another. Research shows that same-sex couples are more emotionally expressive than opposite-sex couples, and this high expressiveness may be helpful in constructively resolving conflicts with their partners.
Model of emotion
There are many different theories about the nature of emotion and how it manifests itself in the brain and body. A major point of difference among these theories is the different views on emotional expression. Some hold that emotions are biologically basic and stable across populations and cultures. These are often referred to as "basic emotion" views because these theories argue that the expression of emotion is sufficient to determine a person's internal emotional state. For example, if a person smiles, he is happy; if a person cries, he is sad.
Emotional expression is a flexible behavior that is interconnected with its cognitive components.
Additionally, some theories argue for greater elasticity in the expression of emotion and argue that cognitive components influence emotion. These theories suggest that humans evaluate situations and trigger different emotions and their corresponding expressions based on the results of their evaluations, so that emotional expressions are not all biologically fixed responses.
Basic model and evaluation model
The roots of the basic emotion model can be traced back to Charles Darwin's The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. Darwin believed that the expression of emotion involves multiple systems, including facial expressions, behavioral responses, and physiological responses. This view emphasizes the universality of emotional expression and believes that expressions should be similar across different races or cultures. As subsequent research unfolded, scholars expanded Darwin's theory and conducted cross-cultural empirical tests, finding that many basic emotions are universally recognized.
The expression and recognition of emotions play a coordinating role in social interactions.
The appraisal model proposes that emotions are triggered by specific psychological states, and each emotion has its unique form and function. In this theory, individual emotional expressions are biologically programmed manifestations, and each emotion is They are expressed consistently when experienced.
Psychological construction model and social construction model
The psychological construction model describes emotion as a construct composed of more basic psychological processes. Such models question the idea of "basic emotions" because not every emotion has a unique expression. Furthermore, the social construction model contends that The formation of emotions depends on some specific background of experience and context. In the expression of certain emotions, cultural background and social norms determine how individuals express emotions.
Emotional Regulation and Emotional Intelligence
Researchers emphasize the importance of individuals successfully regulating their emotions, a process aimed at managing emotional responses. Emotional intelligence is described as the ability to understand and respond to emotions in daily life. People with high emotional intelligence are more effective at expressing and identifying their own and other people's emotions.
Cross-cultural emotional differences
Although the debate about whether emotions are universal is still ongoing, research on cross-cultural emotional expression shows that emotions are not expressed in exactly the same way across cultures. When comparing Japanese culture with American culture, it is found that Japanese culture uses more social interaction emotions, while American culture tends to use social interruption emotions.
Conclusion
Therefore, regardless of the cultural background on which they are based, emotional expressions and reactions shape the emotional experiences of people in different countries. Faced with diverse understandings and expressions of emotions, how can we find more resonance and understanding in the wave of globalization?
