Exploring Emotions Through Culture: A Review of Between Us: How Cultures Create Emotions by Batja Mesquita
Have you ever found yourself puzzled by a friend’s emotional reaction, wondering why their response felt so different from yours? I certainly have! That feeling sparked my interest in Batja Mesquita’s Between Us: How Cultures Create Emotions. As a psychologist and emotion researcher who has ventured across cultures, Mesquita offers a compelling lens through which we can examine our emotional lives, particularly how they’re intricately woven into the cultural fabric we inhabit.
At its core, this book delves into how emotions are not universally experienced but are profoundly shaped by cultural contexts. Mesquita argues that emotions are conceptualized differently across cultures, crafting distinct inner lives. For instance, her exploration of anger reveals that cultures that value assertiveness, like many in the U.S., foster a heightened expression of anger. In contrast, she illustrates how Japanese culture, which emphasizes empathy, leads to a reframing of anger that is less about expressing it and more about considering the feelings of others. This finding resonated with me, summoning memories of numerous misunderstandings I’ve had in cross-cultural friendships!
Mesquita’s writing is accessible and engaging, boasting a journalistic flair that keeps readers riveted. The pace flows smoothly, making complex psychological concepts digestible. Though I approached the book with skepticism regarding Mesquita’s broad West vs. East dichotomy, her deep engagement with various studies, including many she conducted herself, grounded her arguments in reality. A particularly eye-opening section discusses shame, illustrating how American discomfort with it starkly contrasts with its cultural utility in places like Japan or Taiwan, where expressing shame nurtures communal bonds rather than isolation. This stark difference left me contemplating how my cultural upbringing influences my emotional landscape.
Notable quotes pepper the pages, such as Mesquita’s description of amae—the unique Japanese terminology capturing a dependent form of love. This term sparked my curiosity about how language not only articulates but also shapes emotional experiences. Funny enough, when I read that even puppies exhibit amae, I found myself laughing and reflecting on the deeper connections we share with all living beings!
Yet, despite its compelling insights, I was left pondering some aspects of Mesquita’s arguments. Her rigid division of "MINE" versus "OURS" in emotional experiences felt a bit oversimplified. It made me wish for a more nuanced exploration of individual emotional experiences within collectivist cultures. Ultimately, all this reflection nudged me to consider how our emotions are never entirely our own or dictated solely by the social dynamics at play.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Between Us to anyone curious about psychology and cross-cultural communication. Though I disagree with some of the premises, the book challenges a multitude of culturally-based assumptions and encourages us to embrace a more profound understanding of our emotional diversity. It’s a quick read, clocking in at just over 200 pages, yet it has left a lasting imprint on my perspective. Whether you’re a cultural enthusiast, a psychology buff, or someone simply eager to improve your interpersonal relationships, this book promises to enrich your understanding of the intricate ties between culture and emotion.
Discover more about Between Us: How Cultures Create Emotions on GoodReads >>