When researchers discuss the idea of “collective emotions,” they are generally
referring to shared emotional experiences that occur in large groups. For
example, people will often sync up their behaviors and experiences at events like
music festivals, protests, or during certain religious experiences. These emotions
can motivate group action in ways that are difficult to understand through the lens
of a single individual experience. Using concepts from this week’s material,
explore why this may be the case. Additionally, could collective emotional
experiences differ based on the culture of the group? Discuss why or why
not.
Collective emotions prioritizes the group’s needs above individual needs, valuing
shared identity, respect, social harmony and interdependence. When people feel
connected to a group with a common goal, their emotions synchronize, making
the collective action very powerful. This is why collectivist attitudes rise during
times of crisis because people feel a strong need to work together for survival or
stability. On the other hand, when society is more affluent and stable, there is
less of a shared goal, and people focus more on themselves which leads to a
more individualistic mindset.
Yes, cultural differences do play a major role in shaping how collective emotions
are expressed. In Eastern cultures, where there are more collectivist attitudes,
emotions tend to be more low-arousal like calmness, content, boredom because
maintaining social harmony and hierarchy is highly valued. (“Aspects of Culture
that Predict Differences in Emotion”) These societies discourage high arousal
emotions like anger, enthusiasm, frustration as they could disrupt group unity or
challenge existing power structures. (Lim) People are expected to adjust their
emotions to keep the peace and avoid disrupting social balance. In contrast,
Western cultures have more individualistic attitudes and are more likely to
express high arousal emotions in group settings. (“Aspects of Culture that Predict
Differences in Emotion”) Since personal expression is encouraged, emotions can
spread quickly which leads to more intense collective experiences. A clear
example of this was seen during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, where
widespread anger and frustration fueled both peaceful demonstrations and, in
some cases, escalated to property destruction and violent confrontations. In
Western cultures, people are more willing to challenge authority and influence
others, which can lead to both positive social change and moments of instability.
Ultimately, the way collective emotions are experienced depends on the culture
and its values. Collective societies prioritize emotional control to keep social
harmony, while individualistic societies embrace emotional intensity, sometimes
leading to more unpredictable group behaviors. (Lim) These differences help us
explain why collective emotions shape societies in such different ways.
Option 2: Imagine that you have a friend who traveled to Japan recently who
expresses confusion over the level of politeness and lack of intense emotional
expression that they witnessed during their trip. Explain why they may have
observed this, citing ideas from this week’s readings or videos. (10 points)
Japan is a collectivist society that prioritizes group harmony over individual
expression and it has a strong sense of social hierarchy. This means that people
are aware of their roles within society and adjust their behavior–including their
emotional expressions–to maintain balance and respect.
One reason for the politeness and emotional control in Japan is its vertical
society. For example, the difference between tatemae (public behavior) and
honne (true feelings). In a public setting, people control their emotions rather
than express their true feelings to align with the social expectations of obeying
superiors, being polite to others, and avoiding offending or embarrassing anyone.
This prevents any potential conflicts. (Palandi) Japan’s ideal affect is low-arousal
emotions such as calmness and humility. Unlike individualistic cultures, where
strong emotional displays are often encouraged as a form of self-expression,
Japanese society values adjusting and conforming to other people’s emotions to
keep the social hierarchy. (“Aspects of Culture that Predict Differences in
Emotion”) Ultimately, my friend’s observations simply reflect how deeply
ingrained these cultural norms are in Japan. The politeness and emotional
restraint they noticed aren’t about people lacking emotions but rather about
ensuring that all interactions remain respectful and harmonious.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370376637_THE_CONCEPT_OF_HO
NNE_AND_TATEMAE_IN_JAPANESE_LANGUAGE_COMMUNICATION