Abstract :
Previous research found null results examining predicted relationships between emotion recognition accuracy
and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. Prior theory was “static,” linking cultural profiles with absolute
levels of emotion recognition accuracy. By contrast, a “distance” theory links cultural differences with the
discrepancy in recognition accuracy achieved by members of the group posing versus the group recognizing
the expressions, known as the in-group advantage. Reanalyzing data from four large-scale studies, and pooling
results across studies for greater precision, we find no support for static hypotheses. Notably, no patterns
differ across emotions, a central prediction by static theories focusing on decoding rules. However, analyses
parsimoniously support the distance perspective. These findings add to expanding evidence for cultural differences
in emotional communication.
