The Structure of Emotions: Canada-United States Comparisons

Abstract

A cross-cultural analysis of the structure of emotions for comparable samples of Canadian and United States university students was conducted, employing mean ratings on the evaluation, potency, and activity (EPA) dimensions of the semantic differential. Within each culture, data also were analyzed by gender. Our results show that despite cross-national and gender differences in affective range and intensity, the structure of emotions is relatively invariant across culture (Canadian and U.S.) and gender. In addition, our findings support and extend conclusions of recent research concerning the dimensionality of the emotions domain, the circumplex model of emotions, and the function of the potency dimension.