Identifying Fear-evoking Pictures from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) in a Chilean Sample

Abstract

© 2016 by Sociedad Chilena de Psicología Clínica. The goal of this study was to identify a valid set of fear-evoking pictures from IAPS images (Lang, Bradley, & Cuthbert, 2008) in a Chilean Sample. To do so, categorical and dimensional ratings of pictures made by our participants were analyzed, considering potential sex differences. We also evaluated potential transcultural differences by comparing our results with the results of Barke, Stahl, & Kröner-Herwig (2012), whose methodology was followed in the present study, but incorporating new statistical criteria for the valid identification of pictures that evoke fear. Sixty Chilean volunteers (30 women) with a mean age of 22.3 years rated 146 pictures of the IAPS regarding to the choice of discrete emotions and the ratings of valence, arousal and dominance. Six pictures were identified that evoked fear significantly more than any other emotion. Compared to the German sample, the Chilean group evaluated images with more arousal and valence.