1. Emotion and Culture
Ch 13 sec 2

2. Objectives Emotion and culture Communicating emotion
Gender and emotion

3. chapter 13
Culture and emotion
Culture determines what people feel angry, sad, lonely, happy, ashamed or disgusted about.
Some cultures have words for specific emotions unknown to other cultures..
E.g., schadenfreude
Some cultures don’t have words for emotions that seem universal to others.
Tahitian and sadness
Differences in secondary emotions appear to be reflected in differences in languages.

4. Story time!
Young wife leaves home one morning to draw water from well, husband watches from porch
Male stranger stops her, and asks for water, she gives it to him invites to dinner. He accepts
Husband, wife, stranger eat pleasant meal together

5. Story continued
Husband in gesture of hospitality, invites guest to stay the night- with his wife
Guest excepts
In the mourning husband leaves to get breakfast
When he returns, finds stranger with wife again
What point does the husband get angry?

6. Depends on culture
North American husband- wife has extra marital affair
N.A. wife angry if offered up like a lamb chop
However reactions not universal
Pawnee husband of 19th century enraged about water
Ammassalik Inuit- honorable to offer wife but only once
Toda husband in India not angry at all…but need to announce affair, no sneaky affairs

7. How culture shapes emotions
Germans have schadenfreude – feeling of joy at others misfortune
“ glad it didn’t happen to me” Gigi
Japanese speak of hagaii- Helpless with anguish
Tahitians have mehameha, a trembling sensation that Tahitians feel when ordinary categories of perception are suspended
All can feel emotions, but cultures more likely to feel ones they name
Most psychologists believe all humans share primary emotions

8. Communicating emotions
Display rules are social and cultural rules that regulates when, how, and where a person may express (or suppress) emotions; grief =weeping, tearless resignation, drink & dance
Body language is nonverbal signals of body movement, posture, gesture, and gaze; UT Texas something diff Italy (mans wife unfaithful)
Emotion work is an expression of an emotions, often because of a role requirement, that a person does not really feel
Job requirement- flight attendant, waitress= happy face
Bill collector, bouncer= menacing but feel sorry

9. Rules of emotional regulation
chapter 13
Rules of emotional regulation
Display rules
When, where, and how emotions are to be expressed or when they should be squelched
Emotion work
Acting out an emotion we do not feel or trying to create the right emotion for the occasion
Body language
The nonverbal signals of body movement, posture, and gaze that people constantly express

10. Gender and emotion
The sexes do not differ in how they feel the range of everyday emotions
North american women are more verbally and nonverbally expressive than men- smiles and talk more about their emotions
Men are more likely to express anger at strangers- only emotion more likely in men
Women more likely emotional disturbances= Panic Disorders, depression

11. Gender and emotion In North America women. . .
chapter 13
Gender and emotion
In North America women. . .
smile more than men.
gaze at listeners more.
have more emotionally expressive faces.
use more expressive body movements.
touch others more.
acknowledge weakness and emotions more.
Compared to women, men only express anger to strangers more.

12. Situations can override gender rules
Both sexes are less expressive to a person of higher status
World series, super bowl= both cheer, boo
Both sexes do “emotion work” associated with their jobs
Some situations foster emotion in everyone
Gender differences vary across culture

13. Factors influencing emotional expressiveness
chapter 13
Factors influencing emotional expressiveness
Gender roles
Cultural norms
The specific situation

14. Summary
Emotion culture
Communicating emotions
Gender and emotion