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

Author:

Kirchner-Häusler Alexander1ORCID,Boiger Michael2,Uchida Yukiko3,Higuchi Yoko34ORCID,Uchida Atsuhiko3,Mesquita Batja5

Affiliation:

1. University of Kent, Canterbury, UK

2. University of Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands

3. Kyoto University, Japan

4. RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan

5. University of Leuven, Vlaams Brabant, Belgium

Abstract

Satisfied couples in European-American cultural contexts experience higher ratios of positive to negative affect during interactions than their less satisfied counterparts. The current research tests the possibility that this finding is culture-bound. It compares proportions of positive to negative affect during couple interactions in two different cultural contexts: Belgium and Japan. Whereas Belgian relationship goals (e.g., mutual affirmation and self-esteem) call for the experience of positive affect, Japanese relationship goals (e.g., harmony and self-adjustment) call for the avoidance of negative affect. We propose that these differences result in different affect ratios in close relationships. To test this idea, we tracked positive and negative feelings during couple interactions. Fifty-eight Belgian and 80 Japanese romantic couples took part in a lab interaction study, in which they discussed a topic of disagreement. Using a video-mediated recall, participants rated their positive and negative feelings during the interaction; relationship satisfaction was assessed before the interaction. As expected, Belgian couples’ positive-to-negative affect ratios were more positive than those of Japanese couples. Furthermore, in both cultures relationship satisfaction was positively associated with more positive affect ratios, but this effect was significantly stronger for Belgian than Japanese couples. Finally, mediation analyses showed that higher affect ratios were achieved in culturally different and meaningful ways: satisfied Belgian couples showed higher ratios primarily through higher levels of positive feelings, whereas satisfied Japanese couples showed higher ratios primarily through lower levels of negative feelings.

Funder

Onderzoeksraad, KU Leuven

Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Anthropology,Cultural Studies,Social Psychology

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