Ever wondered why some of us wear our hearts on our sleeves while others keep a 'stiff upper lip' or a 'stoic' predisposition? (Millennials have also coined 'RBF', i.e. Resting b**** face). It turns out, our cultural backgrounds play a significant role in how we manage and express our emotions.
*Before you continue reading, I urge you to also consider that culture extends broader than ethnicity or nationalism. Culture includes occupation, generation, sports affiliation, and so on.
The Cultural Lens of Emotion
Imagine our emotions as a river, and culture as the landscape that shapes its course. Depending on the terrain—steep mountains or gentle plains—the river flows differently. Similarly, our cultural values influence whether we let our emotions flow freely or channel them carefully.
In my work at A Road to Recovery, I’ve seen firsthand how cultural perspectives shape emotional expression. As a supervising therapist, I’ve guided clinicians who struggle with clients from cultural plural backgrounds. One therapist, for instance, found it challenging to support a client who consistently suppressed emotions despite experiencing deep pain. Understanding that this behavior was culturally ingrained—rather than a resistance to therapy—completely transformed the therapist’s mindset and approach.
In this exploration, we’ll delve into how individualism and collectivism impact emotional regulation, uncover some surprising findings about emotion suppression, and appreciate the nuanced ways personal values shape our emotional expressions.
Individualism vs. Collectivism: The Emotional Balancing Act
It's fascinating how cultural values guide our emotional responses. Research indicates that individuals who cherish uniqueness and equality—traits of "horizontal individualism" (Klein et al., 2024)—are more inclined to reframe situations to manage their feelings, a strategy known as cognitive reappraisal. This approach is linked to better psychological health and well-being (Ford & Mauss, 2016).
Quick Tip: Embracing cognitive reappraisal can enhance your emotional well-being. Next time you’re upset, try to view the situation from a different perspective to alleviate negative feelings.
The Unexpected Side of Suppression
Contrary to common beliefs, valuing uniqueness (horizontal individualism) or emphasizing group hierarchy (vertical collectivism) can lead to increased emotional suppression. This suggests that our views on equality and social structure significantly influence whether we express or conceal our emotions (Ford & Mauss, 2016).
One of my mentors used to emphasize that emotional suppression isn’t inherently bad—it’s just a tool.
The fundamental principle of A Road to Recovery reflects this teaching: rather than labeling suppression as unhealthy, we help clients understand when it serves them and when it may hinder growth. Navigating this in a collectivist ancestry whilst straddling an individualistic Western society often requires subtle questioning, 'feeling out the terrain' in accordance with clients' intuition and distinguishing between their fear (resistance) or actual potential problematic disharmony.
Fact: Emotional suppression has been linked to various health issues, including increased stress and decreased life satisfaction.
Beyond Borders: Personal Values at Play
It's not just about where you're from; it's about how you see yourself in the world. Even within the same country, we exhibit diverse emotional regulation strategies based on our personal cultural values or cultural values inherited from the different paths taken in life. This highlights the importance of understanding personal beliefs when addressing emotional health (Ford & Mauss, 2016).
Quick Tip: Reflect on your personal values and consider how they influence your emotional responses. This self-awareness can be a powerful tool for personal growth.
Universal Patterns: Consistency Across Cultures
Interestingly, certain patterns of emotional regulation hold true across various cultures. This consistency underscores the universal impact of individual attitudes toward cultural values on emotional behavior, transcending geographical boundaries (Ford & Mauss, 2016).
As a therapist was working with a client from a completely different cultural background, I found that I shared the lived experience of her core emotional struggles— i.e. stress from high expectations (cultivated socially initially and subsequently perpetuated by self), difficulty saying no, and fear of disappointing self and loved ones—were nearly identical... transference aside! This example reaffirms the fact that - while cultural context matters, human emotions are deeply universal.
Same same but different.
Fact: Studies have found that cognitive reappraisal is generally associated with positive psychological outcomes across different cultural contexts.
5. Practical Implications: Enhancing Emotional Well-being
Understanding the interplay between cultural values and emotion regulation can inform therapeutic practices. Culturally responsive care isn’t just a preference—it’s essential. That’s why I created The Culturally Informed Trauma Workbook, a guide for individuals and clinicians looking to deepen their understanding of cultural influences on trauma and healing. By recognizing the cultural lens through which emotions are processed, we can offer more effective, compassionate support.
Ultimately, the one-size-fits-all approach fails to acknowledge the cultural and personal nuances of healing. And it may work to an extend, but at times can just serve as a Band-Aid rather than healing at the core.
Quick Tip: When seeking support for emotional challenges, consider services like A Road to Recovery that acknowledge and incorporate your cultural background into their care approach. Feel free to also get in touch for some culturally safe practitioners. I would be happy to refer you or your loved ones on.
Embracing Our Emotional Diversity
Our cultural values are like the unseen currents guiding our emotional rivers. By recognizing and understanding these influences, we can navigate our emotions more effectively and foster deeper connections with others. Embracing this diversity enriches our shared human experience.
Inspiring Thought: "Understanding the cultural lenses through which we view emotions can lead to greater empathy and improved mental health." — Dr. Amy Halberstadt, Professor of Psychology.
As you reflect on how cultural values shape emotions—both in yourself and those around you—consider how this awareness could transform the way you navigate healing, relationships, or professional growth.
If you're a therapist looking to deepen your ability to provide culturally responsive care, supervision and continued learning can be invaluable. And if you're seeking support for your own emotional well-being, working with someone who understands the role of culture in healing can make all the difference.
Whether through counseling, supervision, or resources like The Culturally Informed Trauma Workbook, integrating culture into your healing journey can manifest in meaningful ways.💙
If this resonates with you, connect with me Here to explore how I can support your journey.
Sources:
Culture and emotion regulation - PMC (Ford & Mauss, 2016).
Individualism, collectivism, and emotion regulation: a cross-cultural examination among young adults from seven countries | Current Psychology (Klein et al., 2024)
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