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Culture

In all cultures, children are taught guidelines for where, when, and how to manage and communicate emotions (Saarni, 1993). When people in a given culture agree about which forms of emotion management and communication are socially desirable and appropriate, these norms are called display rules. Display rules powerfully shape how we each communicate our emotional experiences to others. For example, on the morning of 9/11, when individuals from disparate cultures experienced the same negative emotions, the manner in which they communicated these emotions differed widely depending on the students’ cultural display rules. Some openly wept or angrily shouted; others silently mourned.

Because of differences in socialization, traditions, and ideals, display rules show considerable variation across cultures (Soto, Levenson, & Ebling, 2005). Consider the two fastest-growing ethnic groups in the United States—Mexican Americans and Chinese Americans (Buriel & De Ment, 1997). In traditional Chinese culture, emotional control and moderation are emphasized above all else; intense emotions are considered dangerous and are even thought to cause illness (Wu & Tseng, 1985). This belief shapes communication in close relationships as well; Chinese American couples discussing their relationships display fewer periods of openly expressed positive emotion toward one another than do Euro-American couples (Tsai & Levenson, 1997). In contrast, traditional Mexican culture encourages openly expressing emotion, even more so than in Euro-American culture (Soto et al., 2005). For people of Mexican descent, the experience, open expression, and deep discussion of emotions and feelings provide some of life’s greatest rewards and satisfactions.

When families emigrate to a new society, the move often provokes tension over which set of display rules should be honored. People more closely oriented to their cultures of origin continue to communicate their emotions in traditional ways. Others—usually the first generation of children born in the new society—may move away from traditional forms of expression (Soto et al., 2005). For example, Chinese Americans who adhere strongly to traditional Chinese culture openly display fewer negative emotions than those who are Americanized (Soto et al., 2005). Similarly, Mexican Americans with strong ties to traditional Mexican culture express intense negative emotion more openly than “Americanized” Mexican Americans.

Competent interpersonal communicators adjust their expression of emotion according to the cultural background of the people with whom they’re interacting. Keep in mind that the exact same emotional expression—for example, an open and vivid venting of intense joy—might be considered an enormous breach of social etiquette in some cultures but a healthy and normal behavior in others.