This thesis examined the extent to which relationships between emotional experiences and aggressive behaviours in adolescents are affected by culture. While existing studies often compare... Show moreThis thesis examined the extent to which relationships between emotional experiences and aggressive behaviours in adolescents are affected by culture. While existing studies often compare individuals from different countries to study cultural influences, this thesis also took a between-country approach by comparing Dutch and Malaysian adolescents; groups that reflect individualistic and collectivistic cultures, respectively. Also, the effect of individualistic and collectivistic values at an individual level was examined. First, the outcomes show that many relationships were culturally universal. Regardless of country or cultural orientation, adolescents who had more problems with anger control tended to be more aggressive; and those who experienced intense anger, fear and shame were more often bullied. Also, guilt was related to less aggressive behaviours in both Malaysian and Dutch samples. Yet, this thesis also revealed country/cultural specific relationships. Whereas shame was related to more aggression in Dutch adolescents, the opposite was true for Malaysian adolescents.Remarkably, this thesis found that the traditional classification between individualistic Western countries and collectivistic Eastern countries was not fully supported when cultural values were assessed at individual levels. For example, while higher levels of shame were related to less aggressive behaviours in individualistic-oriented adolescents, the opposite was true for collectivistic-oriented adolescents. Show less
Since heterogeneity in depressed patients makes treatment decisions difficult and treatment often unsuccessful, we seek to identify certain subtypes of depression. 30 to 40% of depressed patients... Show moreSince heterogeneity in depressed patients makes treatment decisions difficult and treatment often unsuccessful, we seek to identify certain subtypes of depression. 30 to 40% of depressed patients have anger regulation problems; from irritability to anger attacks. What is the significance of anger in depression? Does it signify a subtype of depression? In the NESDA cohort, we compared a large sample of currently depressed patients with irritability to currently depressed patients without irritability. Irritable depressed patients had more symptoms of depression, more often had comorbid anxiety and had more often attempted suicide than non-irritable depressed patients. In a student sample, we investigated the role of the MAOA genotype and found that women with the high expression variant are possibly more vulnerable to anger or aggression during depression. Using acute tryptophan depletion we temporarily lowered serotonin in remitted depressed patients with and without anger regulation problems during their depression. We found no cognitive differences between the two groups, but the experiment did show us that depressed patients with anger regulation problems may be more serotonergically vulnerable. Further research is needed to elucidate best suited treatment strategies for anger regulation problems in depression Show less
This dissertation aims to compare the interpersonal effects of different negative emotions in negotiations, by focusing on two of the most often communicated and experienced emotions in... Show moreThis dissertation aims to compare the interpersonal effects of different negative emotions in negotiations, by focusing on two of the most often communicated and experienced emotions in negotiations: anger and disappointment. The results of four empirical chapters show that anger is an emotion that communicates power. Opponents in negotiations give in to angry negotiators to avoid negative consequences such as impasse. When opponents do not have to care about these negative consequences, anger backfires. Disappointment, on the other hand, is an emotion that communicates weakness. Opponents give in when this communicated weakness evokes guilt. When it does not evoke guilt, communicating disappointment backfires. Neuroimaging results have also shown that the communication of anger, more so than the communication of disappointment, evokes a concern for the self in opponents. This dissertation thus not only shows that the interpersonal effects of anger and disappointment differ, but also what their underlying mechanisms are and what the different consequences are for behavior. By taking a close look at how these two emotions affect others’ behavior and underlying neural mechanisms, this dissertation provides a more in-depth view of the social functions of negative emotions. Show less
