Feeling Happy and Sad at the Same Time? Subcultural Differences in Experiencing Mixed Emotions between Han Chinese and Mongolian Chinese

Abstract

Sometimes people experience pleasant and unpleasant emotions at the same time in a single emotional event. Previous cross-cultural studies indicated that such mixed emotions are more prevalent in China and related to the attitudes toward happiness and individual’s regulatory motivation. However, China is a multi-ethnic country and not much is known about subcultural differences in mixed emotions. The aim of this study was to examine the role that implicit attitudes toward happiness and regulatory motivation played in regard of the subcultural differences in mixed emotions between Han (N = 61) and Mongolian Chinese (N = 46). Results indicated that, compared with Mongolian Chinese, Han Chinese showed stronger associations between implicit contra-hedonic attitudes toward happiness and mixed emotions during pleasant emotional events. Also, Han Chinese who reported contra-hedonic motivation during pleasant emotional events had higher levels of mixed emotions than those who had hedonic motivation. No significant differences were found in terms of mixed emotions between Mongolian Chinese who had contra-hedonic and hedonic motivation. These results suggest that the psychological mechanisms underlying differences in mixed emotions also require a more comprehensive understanding from a subcultural perspective.

Prefer feeling bad? Subcultural differences in emotional preferences between Han Chinese and Mongolian Chinese

“…This tendency to emphasise the importance of contradictory consequences of pleasant and unpleasant emotions is called contra‐hedonic attitudes towards emotions (Miyamoto & Ma, ). Prior research also demostrated that Chinese showed contra‐hedonic attitudes towards happiness implicitly (Deng et al, ). Although studies have shown the existence of culture differences in the contra‐hedonic attitudes towards emotions (Deng et al, ), how these attitudes impact on individuals' emotional preferences, especially in a diverse subcultural context are not well understood.…”

“…Prior research also demostrated that Chinese showed contra‐hedonic attitudes towards happiness implicitly (Deng et al, ). Although studies have shown the existence of culture differences in the contra‐hedonic attitudes towards emotions (Deng et al, ), how these attitudes impact on individuals' emotional preferences, especially in a diverse subcultural context are not well understood. Therefore, motivated by prior research, the present study aimed to investigate subcultural differences in individuals' emotional preferences in China, which may be caused by their divergent attitudes towards emotions.…”

“…Through this proactive process, individuals' cultural model is reflected in divergent attitudes towards emotions (Riediger, Wrzus, & Wagner, ). Unlike Western cultures which value the importance of pleasant experiences, people in East Asia view it potentially dangerous and obstructive (Deng, Ding, Cheng, & Chou, ). For example, Chinese people believe that happiness rests in misery.…”

“…The key characteristic of dialectical thinking by Chinese is the tolerance of contradiction or seek the “middle way” (Choi & Choi, ). For example, Chinese people believe that pleasant emotions have dialectical relations with unpleasant emotions (misery follows or co‐occurs with happiness; Deng et al, ; Spencer‐Rodgers, Peng, & Wang, ). Indeed, some empirical evidences supported these notions.…”

“…In addition, unlike Han Chinese, Mongolian Chinese are considered to be unconstrained, extroverted and outgoing (Yang & Zhang, ). The spacious living space and vigorous traditional activities may have a great impact on shaping their unconstrained characteristics, thereby leading to the higher hedonism among Mongolian Chinese than Han Chinese (Deng et al, ; Yang & Zhang, ). Also, living far from big cities might make them less endorsed in the mainstream Chinese cultural values.…”