Emotions in the Context of Individualism and Collectivism Dimensions Cover Image

Emocije u kontekstu dimenzija individualizma i kolektivizma
Emotions in the Context of Individualism and Collectivism Dimensions

Author(s): Dina Šverko
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar
Keywords: emotion; disposition; individualism; collectivism

Summary/Abstract: Cross-cultural studies point at differences in emotional experience of people from different cultures. The major part of these differences can be explained by cultural syndromes, among which individualism and collectivism are mostly highlighted. Besides the cultural level of analysis, dimensions of individualism and collectivism can be studied at the level of individual differences. So, it is possible to explore these dimensions within the culture. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of the relations between emotional experience, on the one side, and individualism and collectivism personality dispositions, on the other side. The participants were 415 students from the University of Zagreb. Instruments for measuring emotional experience and personality dispositions of individualism and collectivism were administered. The results of multiple regression analyses indicated that emotions of serenity, compassion, fear, suspense, enthusiasm and jealousy significantly predict the individualism disposition, while amity, jealousy, anger, fear and boredom significantly predict the collectivism disposition. The directions of these associations are compatible to the specific pattern of emotional experience found in individualistic and collectivistic cultures.

  • Issue Year: 18/2009
  • Issue No: 104
  • Page Range: 1089-1105
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Croatian