e-Nature Positive Emotions Photography Database (e-NatPOEM): affectively rated nature images promoting positive emotions

Daniela Dal Fabbro, Giulia Catissi, Gustavo Borba, Luciano Lima, Erika Hingst-Zaher, João Rosa, Elivane Victor, Letícia Bernardes, Tinely Souza, Eliseth Leão, Daniela Dal Fabbro, Giulia Catissi, Gustavo Borba, Luciano Lima, Erika Hingst-Zaher, João Rosa, Elivane Victor, Letícia Bernardes, Tinely Souza, Eliseth Leão

Abstract

Affectively rated image databases have their main application in studies that require inducing distinct stimuli on subjects. Widespread databases are designed to cover a broad range of stimuli, from negative to positive (valence), and relaxed to excited (arousal). The availability of narrow domain databases, designed to cover and thoroughly analyze a few categories of images that induce a particular stimulus, is limited. We present a narrow domain affective database with positive images, named e-Nature Positive Emotions Photography Database (e-NatPOEM), consisting of 433 high-quality images produced by professional and amateur photographers. A total of 739 participants evaluated them using a web-based tool to input valence-arousal values and a single word describing the evoked feeling. Ratings per image ranged from 36 to 108, median: 57; first/third quartiles: 56/59. 84% of the images presented valence > middle of the scale and arousal < middle of the scale. Words describing the images were classified into semantical groups, being predominant: Peace/tranquility (39% of all words), Beauty (23%), and Positive states (15%). e-NatPOEM is free and publicly available, it is a valid resource for affective research, and presents the potential for clinical use to assist positive emotions promotion.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Screenshot showing the digital self-assessment tool designed for rating pictorial stimuli. Participants assigned valence (ranging from very unhappy to very happy) and arousal (ranging from very relaxed to very excited) ratings using the continuous sliders. Portuguese version only, assessments were provided by Brazilian participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
e-NatPOEM valence and arousal ratings by image category (n = 27,389).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Affective space of the e-NatPOEM (including control images) with the estimated mean ratings of valence and arousal for each image. The affective spaces of the IAPS and NAPS databases are also presented, for comparison.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Affective spaces with the estimated mean ratings of valence and arousal for the e-NatPOEM images, by category.

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