Different bumps in the road: The emotional dynamics of couple disagreements in Belgium and Japan.

Abstract

In the present study, we propose that the emotional "bumps" that couples experience during relationship disagreements differ systematically among cultures. We predicted that self-assertive emotions such as anger or strength play a central role in Belgium, where they are instrumental for relational independence. In comparison, other-focused emotions such as shame or empathy for the partner should play a central role in Japan, where they support relational interdependence. Romantic couples from Belgium (n ϭ 58) and Japan (n ϭ 80) discussed relationship disagreements in the lab, which were video-recorded. After the interaction, participants separately rated their emotional experience during video-mediated recall. We identified the emotions that played a central role during the interactions in terms of attractors; these are the emotions around which couples stabilize and that likely play a central role in realizing different relationship ideals. In line with our predictions, attractors reflected states of the interpersonal emotional system that support independence in Belgium (e.g., angry or strong feelings) and interdependence (e.g., empathy) in Japan. Moreover, we found that-at least in Belgium-having more culturally typical interactions was associated with a stronger endorsement of culturally valued relationship ideals and, in turn, better relational functioning.

Emotion depends on context, culture and their interaction: evidence from effective connectivity

“…In contrast, emotion-based norms of Eastern societies favor emotions that promote group harmony and collectivist values (e.g. shame) and that do not stand out from the group as overly intense ( Boiger et al. , 2020 ; De Leersnyder et al.…”

“…Cultures also vary regarding the features ascribed to an emotion. For instance, individuals from Belgium and Japan experience shame and anger as consisting of different appraisals and action tendencies ( Boiger et al. , 2020 ).…”

Relatively Happy: The Role of the Positive-to-Negative Affect Ratio in Japanese and Belgian Couples

“…Our findings may be fruitfully followed up by analyses of the dynamic patterns that underlie different affect ratios in Belgian and Japanese couples. We expect that these patterns are not random, but will reveal some coordination between partners toward culture-specific desirable affect states (Boiger & Mesquita, 2012; Boiger et al, 2020). Zooming in on cultural differences in these interpersonal affect patterns could also offer more specific insights into what affective processes contribute to well-functioning relationships in different cultures, and which behaviors may be targets for interventions to increase satisfaction with one’s relationship.…”

“…The choice for this paradigm was partly motivated by the fact it has been successfully used with couples of East-Asian origin (Hiew et al, 2016; Tsai & Levenson, 1997; Tsai et al, 2006). The present data was collected as part of a larger project on cultural differences in emotional interactions (see Boiger et al, 2020; Schouten et al, 2020).…”

Couple disagreement: Inevitable and healthy? Belgian and Japanese conceptions

“…Although some researchers have posited that couple disagreement is enacted differently across cultural contexts because of different assumptions or belief systems (Boiger et al, 2022; Kirchner‐Häusler et al, 2022), no study has directly investigated partners' assumptions and beliefs about couple disagreement. In the present study, we examine how partners from different cultural contexts talk about couple disagreement, and by doing so, we aim to gain more insight into their assumptions and beliefs.…”