Is there a role for language in emotion perception?

What is the relationship between language, emotion concepts, and perceptual categories? Here I compare the strong Whorfian view of linguistic relativity, which argues that language plays a necessary role in the perception of emotions, to the alternative view that different levels of processing (e.g., linguistic, conceptual, perceptual) are relatively independent and thus, that language does not play a foundational role in emotion perception. I examine neuropsychological studies that have tested strong claims of linguistic relativity, and discuss research on categorical perception of emotional expressions, where the two accounts have been directly tested against each other. As in other perceptual domains, there is little evidence that language plays a foundational role in the perception of emotion

What the Theory of Affective Pragmatics Does and Doesn't Do

The theory of affective pragmatics (TAP) is proposed as a theory on “what emotional expressions 'do'from a communicative point of view”(p. 171). We think that Andrea Scarantino's (this issue) aim to present a more integrative theory on emotion expression is laudable, and we also appreciate his aim to bridge the gap between two opposing theories on emotion expressions, namely, Ekman's Basic Emotion Theory (Ekman, 1992) and Fridlund's Behavorial Ecology View (1994). In this commentary we question some of premises of TAP, point some issues that need further clarification, and assess the overall added value of TAP, giving existing theory and research

Adversity, emotion, and resilience among Syrian refugees in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND: Syrian refugees comprise the vast majority of refugees in the Netherlands. Although some research has been carried out on factors promoting refugee resilience, there have been few empirical studies on the resilience of Syrian refugees. METHOD: We used a qualitative method to understand adversity, emotion, and the factors contributing to resilience in Syrian refugees. We interviewed eighteen adult Syrian refugees residing in the Netherlands and used thematic analysis to identify the themes. RESULTS: We identified themes and organized them into three main parts describing the challenges (pre and post-resettlement), key emotions pertaining to those experiences, and resilience factors. We found six primary protective factors internally and externally promoting participants' resilience: future orientation, coping strategies, social support, opportunities, religiosity, and cultural identity. In addition, positive emotions constituted a key feature of refugees’ resilience. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the challenges and emotions in each stage of the Syrian refugees’ journey and the multitude of factors affecting their resilience. Our findings on religiosity and maintaining cultural identity suggest that resilience can be enhanced on a cultural level. So it is worth noting these aspects when designing prevention or intervention programs for Syrian refugees. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-022-00963-w

Assessing Emotional Vocalizations from Cultural In-Group and Out-Group Depends on Oxytocin

Group-living animals, humans included, produce vocalizations like screams, growls, laughs, and victory calls. Accurately decoding such emotional vocalizations serves both individual and group functioning, suggesting that (i) vocalizations from in-group members may be privileged, in terms of speed and accuracy of processing, and (ii) such processing may depend on evolutionary ancient neural circuitries that sustain and enable cooperation with and protection of the in-group against outside threat. Here, we examined this possibility and focused on the neuropeptide oxytocin. Dutch participants self-administered oxytocin or placebo (double-blind, placebo-controlled study design) and responded to emotional vocalizations produced by cultural in-group members (Native Dutch) and cultural out-group members (Namibian Himba). In-group vocalizations were recognized faster and more accurately than out-group vocalizations, and oxytocin enhanced accurate decoding of specific vocalizations from one’s cultural out-group—triumph and anger. We discuss possible explanations and suggest avenues for new research