THE STRUCTURE AND PERSONALITY CORRELATES OF AFFECT IN MEXICO Evidence of Cross-Cultural Comparability Using the Spanish Language

The structure and personality correlates of affect were studied in a sample of 351 predominantly Mexican university students using a large and representative list of 271 Spanish affect terms and a Spanish translation of the Big Five personality dimensions. Results were compared with those obtained previously in the United States, the Philippines, and Estonia.We found (a) good support for the cross-cultural comparability of global Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA) dimensions and the hierarchical structure of affect; (b) crosscultural similarities, but also differences, in the configuration of more specific positive and negative affects; and (c) fairly comparable patterns of relationships across cultures between the Big Five dimensions of personality and the Big Two dimensions of affect (PA, NA). Most of these results were more consistent with evolutionary biological perspectives on personality and affect than strong social constructivist perspectives.