This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Matsumoto, D. Articles by Wallbott, H. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Antecedents of and Reactions to Emotions in the United States and Japan

Wright Institute, Berkeley, California

Tsutomu Kudoh

Osaka University of Education, Japan

Klaus Scherer

University of Giessen, West Germany

Harald Wallbott

University of Giessen, West Germany

In this study, we examined the degree of cultural similarity and specificity in emotional experience by asking subjects in the United States and Japan to report their experiences and reactions concerning seven different emotions. The data used for this study were part of a larger cross-cultural study of emotion antecedents and reactions involving more than 2,000 subjects in 27 countries (Wallbott & Scherer, 1986). The American-Japanese comparison is a particularly interesting one, given theoretical and anecdotal evidence suggesting differences in emotion processes between the two cultures, especially concerning the "inscrutability" of the Japanese. Data were gathered specifically to test the component-process model of emotion. The data yielded a high degree of cultural agreement concerning many aspects of the antecedent/evaluation process, replicating the general findings from all 27 cultures, and suggesting a large degree of universality in emotional experience. There were cultural differences as well, which mostly centered on reactive/expressive aspects of the emotion. The findings are discussed in terms of a model of emotion that incorporates the possibility of innate emotion programs (to account for the large degree of cross-cultural similarity) setting the stage for cultural constants in emotion, but allows for cultural and individual learning processes to account for cultural differences in other aspects.

Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Vol. 19, No. 3, 267-286 (1988)
DOI: 10.1177/0022022188193001


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Uchida, S. S. M. Townsend, H. Rose Markus, and H. B. Bergsieker Emotions as Within or Between People? Cultural Variation in Lay Theories of Emotion Expression and Inference Pers Soc Psychol Bull, November 1, 2009; 35(11): 1427 - 1439. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. C. Frenzel, T. M. Thrash, R. Pekrun, and T. Goetz Achievement Emotions in Germany and China: A Cross-Cultural Validation of the Academic Emotions Questionnaire--Mathematics Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, May 1, 2007; 38(3): 302 - 309. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Matsumoto Are Cultural Differences in Emotion Regulation Mediated by Personality Traits? Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, July 1, 2006; 37(4): 421 - 437. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. K. La Voy, W. C. Pedersen, J. M. Reitz, A. A. Brauch, T. M. Luxenberg, and C. C. Nofsinger Children's Drawings: A Cross-Cultural Analysis from Japan and the United States School Psychology International, February 1, 2001; 22(1): 53 - 63. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Okazaki Asian American and White American Differences on Affective Distress Symptoms: Do Symptom Reports Differ Across Reporting Methods? Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, September 1, 2000; 31(5): 603 - 625. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. D. Grimm, A. T. Church, M. S. Katigbak, and J. A. S. Reyes Self-Described Traits, Values, and Moods Associated with Individualism and Collectivism: Testing I-C Theory in an Individualistic (U.S.) and a Collectivistic (Philippine) Culture Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, July 1, 1999; 30(4): 466 - 500. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. T. Church and W. J. Lonner The Cross-Cultural Perspective in the Study of Personality: Rationale and Current Research Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, January 1, 1998; 29(1): 32 - 62. [Abstract]

				W. G. Stephan, C. W. Stephan, and M. C. De Vargas Emotional Expression in Costa Rica and the United States Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, March 1, 1996; 27(2): 147 - 160. [Abstract]

				U. Schimmack Cultural Influences on the Recognition of Emotion by Facial Expressions: Individualistic or Caucasian Cultures? Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, January 1, 1996; 27(1): 37 - 50. [Abstract]

				K. S. Aune and R. K. Aune Cultural Differences in the Self-Reported Experience and Expression of Emotions in Relationships Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, January 1, 1996; 27(1): 67 - 81. [Abstract]

				I. J. Roseman, N. Dhawan, S. I. Rettek, R. K. Naidu, and K. Thapa Cultural Differences and Cross-Cultural Similarities in Appraisals and Emotional Responses Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, January 1, 1995; 26(1): 23 - 48. [Abstract]

				K. Williams Anxiety and Formal Second/Foreign Language Learning RELC Journal, December 1, 1991; 22(2): 19 - 28. [PDF]