Question

Is it important to consciously interpret and label emotions in order to explain them? Discuss giving suitable examples.

Answer 1

Yes, it is important to consciously interpret and label emotions in order to explain them as the expression of emotions vary from culture to culture. There are some basic emotions that are common to all cultures and yet there are other emotions that are culture-specific. The identification and experience of emotions also vary across cultures and display rules exist to modify the intensity of expression of emotions. For example, the Tahitian language has 46 labels for the anger that may be used in different contexts. North Americans can produce up to 40 different facial expressions for anger while the Japanese have 10 labels for various facial expressions of happiness and 8 levels to express anger. While some emotions like love, anger, grief, and wonder are deemed to be universal and present across Indian, Chinese, and Western cultures, other emotions like surprise, contempt, and shame are not considered as basic to everyone and the degree of their presence varies individually as well as culturally.

Therefore, it is important to interpret and label emotions in order to understand and explain them.