The Relation Between Valence and Arousal in Subjective Experience Varies With Personality and Culture.
While in general arousal increases with positive or negative valence (a so-called V-shaped relation), there are large differences among individuals in how these two fundamental dimensions of affect are related in people's experience. In two studies, we examined two possible sources of this variation: personality and culture.



In Study 1, participants (Belgian university students) recalled a recent event that was characterized by high or low valence or arousal and reported on their feelings and their personality in terms of the Five-Factor Model. In Study 2, participants from Canada, China/Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Spain reported on their feelings in a thin slice of time and on their personality.



In Study 1, we replicated the V-shape as characterizing the relation between valence and arousal, and identified personality correlates of experiencing particular valence-arousal combinations. In Study 2, we documented how the V-shaped relation varied as a function of Western versus Eastern cultural background and personality.



The results showed that the steepness of the V-shaped relation between valence and arousal increases with Extraversion within cultures, and with a West-East distinction between cultures. Implications for the personality-emotion link and research on cultural differences in affect are discussed.
KU Leuven-University of Leuven.
Peter
P
Kuppens
KU Leuven-University of Leuven.
Francis
F
Tuerlinckx
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Michelle
M
Yik
KU Leuven-University of Leuven.|Australian Catholic University.
Peter
P
Koval
KU Leuven-University of Leuven.
Joachim
J
Coosemans
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Kevin J
KJ
Zeng
Boston College.
James A
JA
Russell
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium / Q000208:ethnology; D002170:Canada / Q000208:ethnology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D013030:Spain / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
Valence; activation; arousal; culture; personality; pleasure; structure of affect; structure of emotion