Maternal socialization of children's anger, sadness, and physical pain in two communities in Gujarat, India

Despite the recognition of cultural influences in child socialization, little is known about socialization of emotion in children from different cultures. This study examined (a) Gujarati Indian mothers' reports concerning their beliefs, affective and behavioral responses to their children's displays of anger, sadness, and physical pain, and (b) their children's reported decisions to express felt emotion. Eighty mothers and their children (between 5 and 9 years) from two urban communities (suburban and old city) in Gujarat, India participated. Results indicated that Gujarati mothers considered their children's expressions of anger and sadness to be less acceptable than physical pain, and were more likely to convey to the child that the angry or sad expression was unacceptable than with physical pain. Mothers' beliefs about the acceptability of their children's displays were correlated with their reported behaviors in response to those displays, as well as with their children's decisions to express those feelings. Within-culture findings indicated that mothers in the old city considered their children's expressions to be less acceptable than mothers in the suburban community. The findings are discussed in the context of collectivist orientation, Hindu ideology, and social organization across the two communities that influence mothers' reported beliefs and behaviors.