CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN REFERENCES TO INTERNAL STATES AND BEHAVIOR: THE EFFECTS ON CHILDREN'S EMOTION UNDERSTANDING

Abstract

The current study examines cross-cultural differences in mother?s use of internal state language and behavior references and its effects on children?s emotion situation knowledge. Results indicated that, as hypothesized, European American mothers made more references to thoughts and emotions, while Chinese immigrant mothers focused more on behavior. Mother?s use of internal state language was found to predict children?s emotion understanding, however, behavioral references was negatively related. Finally, mothers? use of internal state language mediated the cultural differences in children?s emotion situation knowledge.