What has culture got to do with emotions? (A Lot)

Emotions are relationship engagements that are dynamically and socioculturally constructed. Starting from the historic context in which the current research program originated, this chapter develops a theory in which cultural differences in emotion can be understood from the cultural context’s valued model of self and relating. It presents evidence for a “cultural logic” to emotion in the prevalence and content of emotion as well as to which experiences are associated with positive outcomes and well-being. Furthermore, it shows how a myriad of processes co-constitute the alignment of culture and emotion-processes that can be situated at the personal, interpersonal, and collective levels and that are highlighted when emotions are studied in acculturating individuals or biculturals. In concluding, this chapter presents a dynamic and sociocultural model of emotion in which people collectively construct their experiences in line with the prevalent meanings and practices of their sociocultural context.