Emotional Expressivity between the United States and Brazil
Date
2012-12Author
Truell, Peter
Tranquilli, Larissa
Boegh, Branden
Luna, Andre
Advisor(s)
Stetter, Kathleen
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Emotional expression differs according to culture and gender. Understanding such
differences is important for cross-cultural communication. Brazilians are stereotyped
as more emotionally expressive than other cultures. Kring, Smith, and Neale developed
an emotional expressivity scale (EES) that has not been used in Brazil. The EES does
not differentiate between positive and negative emotions or the emotional expression
source, so questions related to six emotions and parental emotional expressivity were
added to the survey. Analysis of variance for EES ratings indicated no significant
country differences, but did indicate significant gender differences with both U.S. and
Brazil women reporting higher ratings than men. For specific emotions, Brazilians
reported significantly more comfort for expressing nervousness and anger. Except for
anger, women reported higher emotional expression than men. Only U.S. women's
EES ratings were significantly correlated with perceived parental expressivity level.
EES ratings significantly correlated with all emotions except for anger in both
Brazil and the United States. The findings further validate the EES by demonstrating
correlation between EES ratings and specific emotions. Additionally, results partially
refute stereotypes about Brazilian emotional expression.
Subject
Brazil
Emotions
Emotional expressivity scale
Gender
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/70987Citation
Volume VII, December 2012, pp. 145 - 154