Engelsk titel: Amae - an emotion that is unique to Japan? On cultural differences in emotion and metaemotion
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Författare:
Norman, Elisabeth
Email: elisabeth.norman@psysp.uib.no
Språk: Nor
Antal referenser: 38
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 15083326
Sammanfattning
"Amae" refers to an experience of warmth, attachment, and dependency in close relationships,
suggested to be a phenomenon specific to Japanese culture (Doi, 1973). After introducing the concept
and how it has been empirically explored across cultures, central questions in basic research on
emotions are addressed. These concern how emotions can be understood and defined, which
components emotions consist of, and how one can determine whether or not a phenomenon should
be regarded as an emotion. The concept of amae is discussed in relationship to these criteria, and it
is concluded that amae cannot straightforwardly be regarded as an emotion. It not only refers to
identifiable emotional states in an individual, but is a wider concept that also concerns qualities of
interpersonal relationships. Thus, the concept challenges the premises in western psychology of
what constitutes an emotion. A distinction between emotions and metaemotions is then introduced,
and it is suggested that the concept of metaemotion may contribute to a deeper understanding of
cultural differences in emotional phenomena, including amae. The questions and reflections
presented in the paper have implications for normal psychology as well as clinical psychology.