the ethnopsychological context of emotion

The article thoroughly discusses the theories that guide the Ifaluk in describing and explaining human nature in terms of behavior consciousness , differences and similarities of their concepts of self ' and others ' The author broadly describes how the Ifaluk speak of themselves as persons who are relatively undivided internally and socially . The Ifaluk can , according to the author , be described further as having an emotional mind ' that understands evens in a way that is simultaneously cognitive and affective

What I find most interesting is the author 's discussion on personhood ' in the

context of the Ifaluk 's belief of the undivided self ' and how they define the boundaries between self ' and other ' The strong emphasis given by the Ifaluk on perceived and desired similarities between self ' and other ' as described by the author , seems to challenge the definition of individuality ' in Western culture . I find this worthy of further discussion because the notion of inclusivity ' in several aspects of discourse in their culture (the frequent use of the pronouns we ' and our ' rather than I ' and my ) is similarly of strong contrast to our culture of individuality where we are freely able to talk about ourselves separate from other people

The concepts of thought /emotion (nunuwan ) and will /emotion /desire (tip in Ifaluk culture intrigued me most as these concepts were described as being both similar and different . The author describes the two as difficult to distinguish from one another as they are often seen as describing aspects of the same...