Normative Data of Emojis for Valence, Arousal, Dominance, Familiarity and Clarity in an Argentinian University Student Sample

Abstract

Abstract

Emojis have become essential elements of digital communication, serving to convey emotions and reduce ambiguity in written messages. Despite their widespread use, the cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying their processing remain insufficiently understood. The present study aimed to provide normative data on the affective dimensions of valence, arousal, and dominance, as well as familiarity and clarity, for 60 commonly used emojis in an Argentine sample, and to compare these results with previous studies conducted in other cultures. A total of 198 Argentine university students participated, evaluating each emoji using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) and complementary familiarity and clarity scales. The results showed that affective responses followed the typical boomerang pattern in the two-dimensional valence–arousal space, with valence emerging as the principal organizing dimension. Significant gender differences were observed only in the valence dimension. Compared with data from Spain, Japan, Portugal, and the United States, Argentine participants exhibited lower arousal levels but similar valence evaluations. Overall, the findings indicate that emojis are valid affective stimuli, displaying patterns comparable to those observed for other emotional materials such as images, words, and sounds. Their high familiarity and clarity make them valuable tools for research on cognitive and emotional processes.