CONCEPT FIT · Emotional fit within and between cultural contexts: Analyzing natural language to describe and compare the conceptual system for emotions
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2020-10-01 → 2022-09-30
- EU contribution
- €178,320
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Emotional fit within and between cultural contexts: Analyzing natural language to describe and compare the conceptual system for emotions
The frequencies, intensities, and types of emotions people experience in each situation differ systematically across cultural boundaries. This variation is inherently meaningful because it reflects differences in the conceptual system for emotions, with implications for well-being. Emotional fit between individuals and other members of their culture is a protective factor for mental and physical health, as is a well-developed conceptual repertoire for emotions. Although language is often used to understand the conceptual system for emotions, this work has remained limited by theories that focus on emotion words at the expense of other features of language, and methods that do not allow for discovery-oriented analysis. In this research project, I address these limitations by describing the conceptual system for emotions in Dutch-speaking Belgians using a qualitative (objective 1) and automated (objective 2) analysis of natural language. I then perform a cross-cultural comparison with English speakers from the US (objective 3) and derive a natural language-based measure of emotional fit between individuals and their fellow culture members (objective 4). I also review the psychological and linguistic literature for previous approaches to analyzing emotion language and propose methods to move the field forward. Together, the objectives of this project expand the understanding of emotional experience and its intersection with language, culture, and well-being.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The frequencies, intensities, and types of emotions people experience in a given situation differ systematically across cultural boundaries. This variation is inherently meaningful because it reflects differences in the conceptual system for emotions, with implications for well-being. Emotional fit between an individual and other members of their culture is a protective factor for mental and physical health, as is a well-developed conceptual repertoire for emotions. Although language is often used to understand the conceptual system for emotions, this work has remained limited by theories that focus on emotion words at the expense of other features of language, and methods that do not allow for discovery-oriented analysis. In this research project, I will address these limitations by describing the conceptual system for emotions in Dutch-speaking Belgians using a qualitative (objective 1) and automated (objective 2) analysis of natural language. I will then perform a cross-cultural comparison with English speakers from the US (objective 3), and derive a natural language-based measure of emotional fit between individuals and their fellow culture members (objective 4). To accomplish these goals, I propose a 2-year stay at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven under the supervision of Prof. Batja Mesquita, a pioneer in the study of culture and emotion whose ERC Advanced grant will provide key data for my project. I will also be supported by Profs. Peter Kuppens and Dirk Geeraerts, experts in individual differences and linguistic theory, respectively. I further propose a secondment with Dr. Ryan L. Boyd of Lancaster University, who will train me in state-of-the-art methods in automated text analysis. The deliverables of the project also include an article reviewing approaches to analyzing emotion language, and development of supervision and communication skills. This project will expand the understanding of emotional experience, and will enhance my future career possibilities.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN · LeuvenCoordinatorBelgium
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union