The role of culture in emotion-antecedent appraisal.

Abstract

Do respondents in different cultures appraise emotion-antecedent events differently? Are similar appraisal profiles associated with the same emotions across cultures? These questions were studied for 7 emotions in 37 countries. Results show rather high convergence across geopolitical regions with respect to emotion specific profiles, suggesting universality of the appraisal mechanism. Empiri-cal profiles corresponded in large measure to theoretical predictions. There were sizable differences between geopolitical regions with respect o general appraisal tendencies. Respondents in Africa tended to appraise events as more immoral, more unfair or unjust, and more externally caused. Respondents in Latin America tended to appraise emotion-antecedent vents as less immoral than those in other regions. To find potential explanatory factors, a number of key country variables related to climate, cultural values, and socioeconomic-demographic factors were examined. Many researchers conducted the questionnaire study in the respective countries and have contributed important suggestions to the overall de-

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