EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION IN COSTA-RICA AND THE UNITED-STATES

This study examined three hypotheses concerning differences between co llectivistic and individualistic cultures using samples from Costa Ric a and the United States. The first hypothesis was that people in indiv idualistic cultures would express emotions affirming independent self- conceptions, whereas people in collectivistic cultures would express e motions affirming interdependent self-conceptions. The first part of t his hypothesis was confirmed, but the second part was not. The second hypothesis was that people in collectivistic cultures would make a gre ater distinction in the degree to which they expressed emotions toward in-group and out-group members than would people in individualistic c ultures. This hypothesis was not supported. The third hypothesis was t hat people in collectivistic cultures would feel less comfortable expr essing negative emotions than people in individualistic cultures. The data provided strong support for this hypothesis. The results an discu ssed in terms of differences between these two cultures and their sign ificance for intercultural communication and individualism-collectivis m.