Language-based Valence and Arousal Expressions between the United States and China: a Cross-Cultural Examination
Authors: Young Min Cho, Dandan Pang, Stuti Thapa, Garrick Sherman, Lyle Ungar, Louis Tay, Sharath Chandra Guntuku


Reviewer paper summaries: This paper explores the differences in affective expressions on social media between two cultures: the United States (using Twitter) and China (using Sina Weibo). The focus is on two primary dimensions of affect—valence (pleasure/displeasure) and arousal (activation/energy)—and how they relate in a V-shaped pattern, with arousal increasing with both positive and negative valence. The study finds that Twitter users in the US exhibit less distinct variation in emotional intensity between negative and positive emotions compared to Weibo users in China, who show a sharper increase in arousal corresponding to heightened emotions. The content of affective expressions also differs, with Twitter discussions tending to revolve around personal life and feelings, whereas Weibo discussions are more likely to pertain to socio-political topics. These findings underscore the influence of cultural differences on affective expressions on social media.
Summary of strengths: The paper contributes to the literature by comparing affective expressions across Western and Eastern cultures using real-world social media data, offering an additional perspective.
Summary of weaknesses: While the paper acknowledges the importance of cultural differences in shaping affective expressions, it might not fully capture the complexity and nuances of cultural influences on emotion, given the vast diversity within each country and the potential for intra-cultural variations.

This paper doesn't explore the deeper cause of why this V-shape arises in this data.
Comments, suggestions and typos: N/A
Overall assessment scores: 2.5