From the margins to the center: Advancing research on caregiver socialization of emotion in Asia

Abstract

As in other fields of developmental science, emotion socialization research in Asia, where nearly 60% of the world's population lives, has emerged on the margins. Contextualizing this marginalization within colonial foundations of our science, in this article, I discuss the historic dominance of the Global North frameworks of emotion socialization. I also address associated limitations of emotion socialization research in Asia, recent conceptualizations that integrate cultural processes and emerging insights from this research, and the need for a decolonial framework to further advance this literature. A decolonial framework would enable scholars to contextualize emotion socialization within local milieus; use research methods valued by local communities; and interpret emotion-related beliefs and behaviors in Asia as assets, not deficits. Adopting a decolonial framework can move emotion socialization research in Asia from the margins to the center of emotion socialization literature, generating knowledge to support the well-being of children in Asia and around the world.