"A large global study across 69 countries found something unexpected: the more individualistic a society is, the more similar people are in how they feel-and in how they want to feel. Across 59 out of 60 emotions, emotional experiences showed greater uniformity in individualistic cultures. This challenges the common assumption that collectivistic cultures are emotionally restrictive because they suppress individuality. In fact, emotional life in individualistic societies appears to be shaped by strong shared norms that dictate which emotions are acceptable, desirable, or problematic-especially regarding negative emotions."
"Individualism predicts stronger conformity around negative emotions-greater agreement about which emotions should be avoided or minimized. Collectivism, by contrast, predicts more variability in how negative emotions are evaluated. In collectivistic contexts: Shame may be experienced as moral responsibility rather than personal defect. Worry may signal care and duty rather than pathology. Sadness may deepen connection rather than indicate failure."
A large cross-cultural study spanning 69 countries found that individualism correlates with greater emotional uniformity across nearly all measured emotions. Individualistic societies show strong shared norms about which emotions are acceptable, desirable, or problematic, particularly regarding negative emotions. Collectivistic contexts display more variability and contextual sensitivity in how emotions are interpreted, with shame, worry, and sadness often carrying relational or moral meanings. Emotion regulation reflects culturally valued outcomes rather than a universal ideal of expression or positivity. Cultural humility in therapy prevents misreading emotions and avoids imposing inappropriate emotional goals across cultural contexts.
Read at Psychology Today
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