Story of Bali, Indonesia

Emotion is conveyed primarily by the eyes and to a lesser extent by other facial expressions, as is evident by the Balinese habit of sustaining eye contact and looking directly at a person. A look is generally more powerful than words and eye expression is striking in dance and also evident in wood-carving, though not in painting (except of dancers). Parents seldom make a positive verbal response to a child for good work and they do not physically touch or give hugs to older children, choosing to express approval in other non-verbal ways. They are good at eye contact. 'They teach their children to look the other person in the eyes and the face and to listen when initiating a good relationship and they emphasize the importance of learning to read facial expressions. 'Me foreigner is often unable to appreciate the meaning of Balinese emotional expression because of sharply different expectations, based on their own customs.

Observable behaviour does not always reveal internal feelings. For example, the Balinese may appear outwardly happy at a funeral but still harbour feelings of sadness within. Such inner feelings are generally not obvious to casual observers, especially Westerners.

The trait of control of strong emotion or controlled emotionality (B: nabdabang kayun; 1: menahan perasaan ) is considered a virtue by Balinese. This pertains to anger as well as elation. The trait has some basis in religion and -myth. An example is the story of "Me Temptation of Arjuna' from the Mahabharata myth, in which Arjuna sits in meditation, unmoved by the tempting lascivious maidens around him. Popular paintings show him 'asking strength from Siwa to overcome the demon Kala. On either side a smiling, teasing nymph (sent by the demon) attempted to distract him. Others danced seductively in transparent draperies, while below, old Tualen, the faithful attendant, made shameless, indecent love to still another nymph whose willingness was all too apparent' . The religious principle of harmony and balance of the emotions as well as all things in the universe are powerful influences. The Balinese control of anger and aggression was noted by Mead on several occasions. 'Interpersonal emotion is systematically discouraged'; 'there is an absence of display of aggression, and anger is expressed with greater smoothness of speech'. The authors concur in these observations of control of anger. Of course, the Balinese also experience feelings of anger but they learn early in life how to deal with these feelings by a number of psychological mechanisms in addition to suppression, including walking away, avoidance of conflictual persons or Situation, sublimation, karma, delay of expression, and sometimes sulking.

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