Current Emotion Research in Cultural Neuroscience

Abstract

Classical theories of emotion have long debated the extent to which human emotion is a universal or culturally-constructed experience. Recent advances in emotion research in cultural neuroscience highlight several aspects of emotional generation and experience that are both phylogenetically conserved as well as constructed within human cultural contexts. This review highlights theories and methods from cultural neuroscience that examine how cultural and biological processes shape emotional generation, experience and regulation across multiple time scales. Recent advances in the neurobiological basis of culture-bound syndromes, such as Hwa-Byung (fire illness), provide further novel insights into emotion and mental health across cultures. Implications of emotion research in cultural neuroscience for population health disparities in psychopathology and global mental health will be discussed.

Cultural fit of emotions and health implications: A psychosocial resources model

“…Moreover, emotions recruit a set of action tendencies and modulate cognitive processes ranging from immediate ones, such as action reflexes and attention (Lang, ; Lang, Bradley, & Cuthbert, ), to decision making (Rothman & Salovey, ) that have potential effects on health. Importantly, cultural contexts modulate such patterns of emotions (Barrett, ; Chiao, ) and thus may have substantial influences on how emotions are linked to health.…”

The Impact of Gender, Culture, and Society on Korean Women's Mental Health

“…They report increased suppression of anger in interpersonal relations for the maintenance of social harmony, despite a perception of bullying or interpersonal harm (Lin et al, 1992). In particular, HB is characterized by feelings of anger and injustice or unfairness, and can involve behavioral symptoms, such as sighing, crying, talkativeness, and approaching open spaces (Chiao, 2015;Lin et al, 1992).…”

“…A glossary of the symptoms associated with culture-bound syndromes was first included in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV;American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Recent advances in the neurobiological basis of culture-bound syndromes have provided further understanding regarding emotion and mental health across cultures (Chiao, 2015;Kitayama & Uskul, 2011). Hwa-byung (HB; see model in Figure 1 developed by Choi, Pang, & Kim, 2006) is a Korean culture-bound syndrome that translates into English as an anger disorder.…”

“…Emotional experiences that affect mental health and illness manifest in distinctive forms across cultural contexts as culture-bound syndromes (Chiao, 2015), which refer to patterns of maladaptive behavior that occur within a local context and are distinct from non-culture-bound syndromes (Lee et al, 2009). A glossary of the symptoms associated with culture-bound syndromes was first included in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV;American Psychiatric Association, 2000).…”

Familial, Social, and Cultural Factors Influencing Panic Disorder: Family Therapy Case of Korean Wife and American Husband

“…HB is characterized by feeling stuffy in the chest with hot flashes, anger, and anxiety (Chung, Park, Kim, & Park, 2015). According to Chiao (2015), patients with HB have increased suppression of anger in interpersonal relations in order to maintain social harmony despite of having the perception of being bullied or interpersonal harm. The prevalence of HB has been reported to be 4.1% in the general population (Min, 2008).…”