While emotions are fundamentally determined by one’s genetics, culture plays a critical role as well. According to Lim (2016), culture constrains how emotions are expressed and felt in a particular cultural context. It shapes the means in which individuals ought to feel in certain conditions and the ways they should express their emotions. This is also seconded by Heine (2016), as he recognizes the role of culture in one’s psychology. Research has also depicted that Western culture (North Americans) is linked to high arousals while Eastern cultures (Asians, Jews, etc.) are related to low arousal emotions. As elucidated by research, the differences are due to the distinct traits of collectivist and individualist cultures.
In Western cultures, Individuals try to influence others, and thus high arousal emotions are effective and ideal. On the contrariwise, the Eastern culture is characterized by conforming and adjusting to other people, and low arousal emotions are perceived as the ideal. A plethora of research has also depicted that in North American contexts, which promote independent self, people usually tend to express their emotions in order to influence others, while in East Asian contexts, people suppress or control their emotions in order to adjust to others. Therefore, while the lack of emotional expression is linked with depression in Western cultures, it is the opposite in Eastern cultures as it is seen as s norm in order to conform to society.
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This information is very critical in understanding the ways of living in different cultures, especially the manner in which they express their emotions. For instance, when working or living with individuals from Eastern cultures, I would understand if they would be reluctant to relay their emotions because their cultures allow them to suppress their emotions. Also, as a psychologist, I would be conscious of the roles of one’s culture in relaying emotions as I would not easily relate the lack of expression of emotions with depression, especially in people from Eastern cultures, while I would easily assume the vice versa in people from Western cultures.
References
Heine, S. J. (2016). Cultural psychology: third international student edition . WW Norton & company.
Lim, N. (2016). Cultural differences in emotion: differences in emotional arousal level between the East and the West. Integrative medicine research , 5 (2), 105-109.
