On the universality and cultural specificity of emotion recognition: a meta-analysis
Abstract
A meta-analysis examined emotion recognition within and across cultures. Emotions were universally recognized at better-than-chance levels. Accuracy was higher when emotions were both expressed and recognized by members of the same national, ethnic, or regional group, suggesting an in-group advantage. This advantage was smaller for cultural groups with greater exposure to one another, measured in terms of living in the same nation, physical proximity, and telephone communication. Majority group members were poorer at judging minority group members than the reverse. Cross-cultural accuracy was lower in studies that used a balanced research design, and higher in studies that used imitation rather than posed or spontaneous emotional expressions. Attributes of study design appeared not to moderate the size of the in-group advantage.
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The universality of facial expressions across different cultures has greatly facilitated the development of FER systems.
“The universality of facial expressions across different cultures, as demonstrated in this well-known study at [7], has greatly facilitated the development of FER systems.”
From SAFER: Situation Aware Facial Emotion Recognition (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
Individuals are approximately 9% more accurate at recognizing emotions expressed by members of their own cultural groups.
“individuals are approximately 9% more accurate at recognizing emotions expressed by members of their own cultural groups”
From The Social Effects of Emotions (2022) · cites this paper as Elfenbein & Ambady 2002
Ample research has documented the role of culture in emotion perception, showing a combination of universals and "dialects".
“Although ample research has documented the role of culture in emotion perception, showing a combination of universals and “dialects” (Elfenbein & Ambady 2002), how culture influences the social effects of emotions is poorly understood, as research to date has almost exclusively studied Western samples.”
From The Social Effects of Emotions (2022) · cites this paper as Elfenbein & Ambady 2002
One's understanding of emotions is dependent on one's cultural background; recognition of emotions is better between members of the same cultural group; perceiving and expressing emotions is determined by prevailing cultural models.
“evidence suggests that one's understanding of emotions is dependent on one's cultural background, that recognition of one's own and others' emotions is better between members of the same cultural group, 162 and that perceiving and expressing emotions is determined by the prevailing cultural models. 163”
From The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health (2024) · cites this paper as [162]
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- Authors
- Elfenbein, H. A., & Ambady, N.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 2002-03
- Volume
- 128
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 203-235
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- OpenAlex
- W2159190230
- Cited by
- 2,049
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 92 · 2025: 93 · 2024: 140 · 2023: 107 · 2022: 169 · 2021: 123 · 2020: 160 · 2019: 129 · 2018: 100 · 2017: 104 · 2016: 113 · 2015: 86 · 2014: 93 · 2013: 86 · 2012: 73
- FWCI
- 4.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cultural Differences and Values
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Keywords
- emotion recognition, universal emotions, cultural specificity, in-group advantage, intergroup differences, physical proximity, telephone communication, emotional expression
- MeSH terms
- Affect, Cognition, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Culture, Humans
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