Emotional Expression in Costa Rica and the United States

Abstract

This study examined three hypotheses concerning differences between collectivistic and individualistic-cultures using samples from Costa Rica and the United States. The first hypothesis was that people in individualistic cultures would express emotions affirming independent self-conceptions, whereas people in collectivistic cultures would express emotions affirming interdependent self-conceptions. The first part of this hypothesis was confirmed, but the second part was not. The second hypothesis was that people in collectivistic cultures would make a greater distinction in the degree to which they expressed emotions toward in-group and out-group members than would people in individualistic cultures. This hypothesis was not supported. The third hypothesis was that people in collectivistic cultures would feel less comfortable expressing negative emotions than people in individualistic cultures. The data provided strong support for this hypothesis. The results are discussed in terms of differences between these two cultures and their significance for intercultural communication and individualism-collectivism.