Compare and contrast the similarities and differences that exist in the expression of emotions among Eastern and Western cultures, and discuss how and why men and women in Western cultures differ in their expression of emotions

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer will include that basic facial expressions appear to be fairly universal with the expressions of fear, anger, disgust, sadness, surprise, and happiness (enjoyment) being recognized around the world. (Expressions of contempt and interest may also be universal.) However, some facial expressions are shaped by learning and may be found only in specific cultures. Among the Chinese, for example, sticking out the tongue is a gesture of surprise, not of disrespect or teasing. If a person comes from another culture, it is wise to remember that you may easily misunderstand his or her expressions. At such times, knowing the social context in which an expression occurs helps clarify its meaning. Anger is a very common emotion in Western cultures. Very likely this is because our culture emphasizes personal independence and a free expression of individual rights and needs. In North America, anger is widely viewed as a "natural" reaction to feeling that you have been treated unfairly. In contrast, many Asian cultures place a high value on group harmony. In Asia, expressing anger in public is less common and anger is regarded as less "natural." The reason for this is that anger tends to separate people. Thus, being angry is at odds with a culture that values cooperation. Culture also influences positive emotions. In America, we tend to have positive feelings such as pride, happiness, and superiority, which emphasize our role as individuals. In Japan, positive feelings are more often linked with membership in groups (friendly feelings, closeness to others, and respect). Compared with women, men in Western cultures are more likely to have difficulty expressing their emotions than women. According to psychologist Ronald Levant, although male babies start out life more emotionally expressive than female babies, little boys soon learn to "toughen up," beginning in early childhood. As a result, men have learned to curtail the expression of most of their emotions. While girls are encouraged to express sadness, fear, shame, and guilt, boys are more likely to be allowed to express only anger and hostility. For many men, an inability to express feelings or to even be aware of them is a major barrier to having close, satisfying relationships with others. Blunted emotions may even contribute to tragedies like school shootings. For many young males, anger is the only emotion they can freely feel and express.