A recent study published in the journal Cognition and Emotion has unveiled significant cultural differences in how people from China and the US perceive compassionate facial expressions. The research highlights how cultural values influence emotional expressions, shedding light on the contrasting ways in which compassion is understood and displayed across these two nations.

Researchers from Beijing Normal University in China and Santa Clara University in the US led the study, which looked at the idea of “avoided negative affect” (ANA) and how it affected people’s perceptions of compassion. ANA refers to the extent to which individuals strive to avoid negative emotions. The findings suggest that this cultural trait plays a crucial role in shaping how compassion is expressed and recognised in different societies.

Birgit Koopmann-Holm, PhD, an associate professor at Santa Clara University and a co-author of the study, explained: “We conducted this study to demonstrate that there is no pre-defined compassionate response that is considered compassionate by everyone. People differ in what they consider to be compassionate, and understanding these differences is important for truly being compassionate.”

Using a reverse correlation task, the researchers found that Chinese participants associated compassionate faces with expressions of sadness, reflecting a cultural acceptance of negative emotions. In contrast, American participants preferred faces with a slight smile, indicating a tendency to maintain positivity even in the context of compassion. Koopmann-Holm noted: “Our research suggests that a compassionate response in China focuses more on mirroring suffering and sadness, whereas in the US, it involves kindness with a slight smile.”

These findings align with previous research suggesting that Western cultures, particularly in the US, place a higher value on avoiding negative emotions. East Asian cultures, such as China, are more accepting of negative emotions, leading to a conceptualisation of compassion closely linked to empathising with another’s distress.

Interestingly, similar patterns were found in other cultural contexts. Koopmann-Holm mentioned that Germans also associate compassion with a focus on suffering, while in Ecuador, a compassionate response combines mirroring distress with a slight smile.

The implications of this research extend beyond academia, offering valuable insights for cross-cultural communication and therapeutic practices. In the US, where a positive outlook is often emphasised, therapists might focus on fostering resilience. In China, where sharing negative emotions is more culturally acceptable, a compassionate response might mirror the client’s distress.

Looking ahead, Koopmann-Holm shared plans for future research, including studies in Mexico and among grieving individuals. “Our past work has also examined differences in what kind of sympathy cards people feel comfortable sending and receiving during bereavement,” she added. “It would be interesting to explore how different cultures express compassion in specific situations.”