Cultural Differences Between Chinese And Caucasian Americans

People of different cultures all express emotions but experience them in different ways. It comes from the rules associated with expression and what society is used to. Emotions can be varied between cultures, and accepted differently. One, is seen as normal in and approved, whereas, another culture may see the same emotion as negative. How one is raised, and taught plays a part in how emotions are reflected. In this paper, a comparison on how Chinese and Caucasian Americans express their emotions.
The covered cultures in this paper will be the Chinese and the Americans. By the Chinese, it will include those who are ethnically Chinese even though they may be resident in the United States. What was obvious is that the Chinese are not as expressive
as mainstream Americans. They are more adept at low-intensity emotions, and numerous studies have proved that. A Chinese person is more likely to seek calm and internal relaxation than an outward expression of emotion (Davis et al, 2012). It is evidently a matter of upbringing. Many in the Chinese society will frown upon people who seem to lose control of their emotions. Americans on the other hand, are given to outbursts of emotion.
They have been brought up in a society that embraces emotions and one where people are encouraged to ‘let it out’. An American will not see much of a problem in crying publicly, as this is seen daily in some areas. He or she will shout with excitement and scream in anger without much of a qualm (Davis et al, 2012). They are many times more expressive when it comes to positive expression.
A Chinese man’s emotional experience will be muted, and the studies confirmed that. In one of the studies, the Chinese respondents reported depressed reactions to the stimuli. The cultural display rules then show that the man does not allow himself to feel. An emotional experience is only deep if one allows the emotion to wash over and dominate him or her (Fernando, 2012). Chinese men were shown to have learned, and do practice disengagement techniques in the face of an emotional situation. The rules then lead to this person having a shallow emotional
experience.
Americans, on the other hand, can be said to have experienced deeper and more meaningful emotional experience. The western culture allows one to display and in turn completely experience the emotion. In many instances, the individual actually has a right to express that emotion. The result of these rules is that positive expressions are higher among the Americans (Davis et al, 2012). Most are not afraid to show that emotion and inevitably feel it more. They allow it to get to them and many times use engagement tactics to deal with emotion. The more open rules lead to a healthier and deeper emotional experience for the Americans.
Cultural Universalism is a theory that more often than not fails to apply especially when it comes to the Chinese. A little history shows that the people have had authoritative governments for most of the civilization’s existence. The concept of human rights went as far as the emperor at that time allowed. The trend has continued to this day where the communist party determines the rights inherent in the Chinese people. There is little universalism, and the people have learned to live with it. It shows in the expression of emotion. The Chinese have learned to hide and suppress their emotions (Davis et al, 2012). The result is a whole population that cannot experience emotion properly unless it is in private.
Americans on the other hand are great believers in cultural universalism.
An American will not understand how and why people would allow their freedoms to be curtailed. For a nation built on rights, liberty and freedoms, expression is at its core. They express love and hatred for their leaders in the same breath. They believe rights apply to all of them. In this manner, Americans are very expressive, and that translates to deeper experiences emotionally (Fernando, 2012). They feel the emotions, allow them to take over and then express them loudly.
Continuing with the Chinese-America theme, there are similarities in the way they express their emotions, but the differences are much more. One similarity is that the women are more emotional and more expressive. The women will cry more easily, and they are not afraid to speak about their emotions (Davis et al, 2012). Women are also more likely to engage when emotions clash. In both cultures, it is the women who will make an effort to engage
emotionally.
The differences in expression stem from the beliefs of the different cultures. A Chinese man will find it shameful to be emotional in public. Most Chinese preserve their outbursts for their private quarters (Markus & Kitayama, 1991). They are more attuned to negative expressions like exuding a calm exterior. Some point out that it is the reason meditation is a bed rock of their culture. Americans believe that it is their right to express their emotions and make them heard. It means that they will exhibit positive measures of expression. They will project the emotions outwards instead of trying to channel them inwards. It is the single most significant difference in how the cultures express emotions.
The paper has shown that the Chinese are less expressive than Americans. It has also shown that the more outward expression does in many ways enhance the emotional experience. Additionally, the Chinese are more adept at negative expressions than Americans. The difference in culture can lead to being misunderstood, judged or ignored. To understand the difference in cultures and emotions can lead to a balance and respect for all.