Abstract

The present study examined the variations in emotion response patterning according to differences in sex, generation and personality variables. The questionnaire based on Wallbott and Scherer(1994)'s was constructed and also included were Positive and Negative Affect Schedule(PANAS), Emotional Expressivity Scale(EES) and Ego Resiliency Scale. The subjective experience, expression and physiological arousal of emotional event were investigated. Specifically, the analyses included antecedent event, frequency, duration, and intensity of the experienced emotions, as well as physiological and expressive responses, to four basic emotions, namely joy, sadness, anger, and fear. Besides sex and generation, further analyses were performed on the emotional responses according to the personality variables and within-and-between family comparisons. The results revealed that significant sex and generational differences exist in emotional response patterning. Specifically, clear generational differences in frequency, duration, and intensity of emotional experiences were found. Furthermore, variations in physiological responses, approach-withdrawal behavior, nonverbal, paralinguistic, and verbal behaviors to all four emotions were found to exist according to sex and generational differences. The results obtained from the personality measures and within-and-between family comparisons were presented. Finally, the limitations of the present study and the implications for future investigations were discussed.