A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Social Norms in Bollywood and Hollywood Movies

Core Concepts

The authors explore the variations in social norms between Bollywood and Hollywood movies, emphasizing shame and pride as cultural markers.

Abstract

The study delves into the differences in social norms portrayed in Bollywood and Hollywood movies, highlighting shame and pride as key emotional indicators. The analysis reveals distinct cultural expectations and values reflected through self-conscious emotions like shame and pride. Gender differences in attribution of these emotions are also explored, shedding light on societal norms across cultures. The research methodology involves extracting dialogues from movie subtitles to identify normative expectations related to shame and pride. The study uncovers significant variations in linguistic expressions of shame and pride between the two film industries. Cultural nuances are evident in the manifestation of these emotions, with Bollywood emphasizing collectivist values while Hollywood focuses on individualistic achievements. Moreover, the analysis extends to gender differences in social behaviors, showcasing how women are more frequently targeted for social sanctions than men across both movie industries. The study provides insights into the attribution of shame and pride based on gender roles, revealing subtle yet impactful societal norms embedded within movie dialogues. Overall, this research offers a comprehensive examination of cross-cultural social norms depicted in Bollywood and Hollywood movies through the lens of self-conscious emotions like shame and pride.

Stats

Shame is associated with negative emotions, power, morality. Shame is past-focused in Hollywood but present-focused in Bollywood. Pride-related interactions are family-focused in Hollywood but achievement/power focused in Bollywood. Females are attributed more shame than males across both cultures. Gender differences exist in expressions of pride and shame across genders.

Quotes

"Shame broadcasts social norms: The positive social effects of shame on norm acquisition." - Psychological Science "Self-conscious emotions reflect unspoken social rules that vary across cultures." - Journal of Personality

Key Insights Distilled From

A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Social Norms in Bollywood and Hollywood Movies

by Sunny Rai,Kh... at arxiv.org 03-13-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2402.11333.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How do cultural nuances influence the portrayal of self-conscious emotions like shame and pride?

Cultural nuances play a significant role in shaping how self-conscious emotions like shame and pride are portrayed in movies. In the context of Bollywood and Hollywood films, we see distinct differences in how these emotions are expressed based on the cultural values and norms prevalent in Indian and American societies. In Bollywood movies, where collectivism is prominent, shame is often depicted as more community-focused. The emphasis is on social roles, family honor, and conformity to societal expectations. On the other hand, Hollywood tends to portray shame as more individualistic, focusing on personal failures or incompetencies rather than societal judgments. Similarly, pride in Bollywood often revolves around collective achievements or family success. It highlights duty towards one's family or nation. In contrast, Hollywood portrays pride more from an individualistic perspective, emphasizing personal accomplishments or ethical behavior. These differences reflect broader cultural values related to individualism versus collectivism, autonomy versus interdependence, which shape how these moral emotions are understood and expressed across different movie industries.

How can machine learning models be trained to recognize diverse cultural values embedded within textual content?

Training machine learning models to recognize diverse cultural values embedded within textual content requires a nuanced approach that takes into account the specificities of different cultures. Here are some strategies: Diverse Training Data: Ensure that training data includes a wide range of texts from various cultures and languages to capture diverse perspectives accurately. Culture-Specific Features: Incorporate features that capture culture-specific elements such as language markers (slang terms), references (historical events), or social norms prevalent in different regions. Cross-Cultural Validation: Validate model performance across multiple cultures using datasets with annotations from native speakers familiar with those cultures. Bias Mitigation Techniques: Implement bias mitigation techniques during model training to prevent reinforcing stereotypes or biases present in the data. Fine-Tuning for Cultural Sensitivity: Fine-tune pre-trained models with additional data from specific cultures to enhance their understanding of culturally sensitive topics.

What implications do gender differences have on societal expectations reflected through movie dialogues?

Gender differences portrayed in movie dialogues reflect societal expectations regarding behaviors associated with masculinity and femininity. Shame Attribution: Women tend to be attributed more shame compared to men across both Bollywood and Hollywood films due to patriarchal norms dictating women's behavior. Pride Expression: Men are often associated with expressions of pride related to achievement or success while women may express pride through familial roles like caregiving. Societal Norms: Movie dialogues reinforce traditional gender roles where men are praised for competence while women face scrutiny for deviating from expected behaviors. These gendered portrayals not only mirror existing societal norms but also have implications for reinforcing stereotypical beliefs about appropriate conduct based on gender identity within society at large.