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.