Cross-cultural validation of the international affective picture system (IAPS) in Malaysia

The International Affective Picture System (IAPS) is widely used in emotion and attention research but was originally validated in North America. Because cultural factors can shape emotional responses, cross-cultural validation is necessary before applying IAPS in new contexts. This study presents the first systematic validation of IAPS for the Malaysian population. A total of 142 undergraduates rated 60 IAPS images on valence, arousal, and dominance. Ratings showed high internal consistency and strong positive correlations with U.S. norms. However, Malaysians reported significantly higher arousal for the selected images, suggesting a sociocultural influence on affective appraisal. Affective space analysis revealed the typical boomerang-shaped distribution with a negativity bias. No significant gender differences were observed. These results support the use of IAPS in Malaysia while highlighting the need to account for cultural variations, particularly in arousal, when selecting stimuli for cross-cultural emotion research.