Feelings and contexts: socioecological influences on the nonverbal expression of emotion

Paula M. Niedenthal, Magdalena Rychlowska, Adrienne Wood

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)
627 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Despite their relative universality, nonverbal displays of emotion are often sources of cross-cultural misunderstandings. The present article considers the relevance of historical and present socio-ecological contexts, such as heterogeneity of long-history migration, pathogen prevalence, and residential mobility for cross-cultural variation in emotional expression. We review recent evidence linking these constructs to psychological processes and discuss how the findings are relevant to the nonverbal communication of emotion. We hold that socioecological variables, because of their specificity and tractability, provide a promising framework for explaining why different cultures developed varying modes of emotional expression.
Original languageEnglish
JournalCurrent Opinion in Psychology
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Oct 2017

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