Culture and Emotion

Culture affects the processes of emotion across multilevel mechanisms. Culture influences distinct stages of emotion, from generation and recognition to experience and regulation of emotion. Theoretical approaches posit causal models of how culture influences mental constructs and neurobiological mechanisms of emotion. Methodological approaches in the study of culture and emotion illustrate the observational tools useful for the measurement of emotion across cultures. Empirical approaches include standard paradigms that allow researchers to test theoretical models of culture and emotion. This chapter examines theoretical, methodological, and empirical approaches in the study of how culture shapes mental constructs and neurobiological mechanisms of emotion. Implications of research on culture neuroscience of emotion for global mental health are discussed.