Australian and Japanese Concepts of Expressive Behavior

Abstract

This study investigated differences in the concepts of the expression of emotion held by Japanese and Australians for themselves and each other, both in terms of degree and kind of expressive behavior and in underlying dimensionality. Through a structured questionnaire, 80 Australian and 80 Japanese male and female students indicated how they thought they expressed eight emotions on 12 behaviors, and how someone of the other nationality would express them. Results show Australians were rated as more expressive by Japanese and that Japanese may conceptualize emotions as less intense. There was considerable agreement between the two groups on the level of expressivity of the Japanese. The dimensions of positive/negative, arousal and "affective focus" were shown to underlie the concepts and to distinguish the two national groups to varying degrees.