Book Reviews

Between Us: How Cultures Create Emotions by Batja Mesquita, W.W. Norton, 2022

Susan Fader reviews Between Us, a book from Batja Mesquita (a pioneer of cultural psychology), which dissects the way culture shapes our emotional world. Using MINE and OURS models of emotion, the author effectively challenges the belief that emotional cues, socially accepted reactions, and empathy are universal across societies. A must-read for researchers seeking to understand the cultural perspectives surrounding our work. […]

Toolbox

Demystifying Semiotics: A Primer on How to Do Semiotic Decoding

In this how-to article, SemioFest co-founder Hamsini Shivakumar demystifies semiotics. She explains: what semiotics is; how it is different from voice-of-the-customer research; and how semiotics-based insights help your customers improve their marketing. Hamsini also provides an introductory how-to on conducting semiotics analyses so that you can consider how you might incorporate semiotics into your practice or business. […]