Features of Emotional Response to Affectively Colored Pictures of Corruption: Gender and Age Aspect

The article describes the gender and age features of the response to affective visual stimuli (a total of 101 photos) associated with corruption. All photos, images are thematically related to such semantic categories as the form of bribe, the process of bribe transfer, the punishment for bribe, social corruption situations occurred in state bodies, internal affairs bodies, the court, educational and medical organizations. Three key parameters of the picture evaluation process are: valence, arousal, and dominance, - similar to the constructive content of parameters of the international database of affective images (International Affective Picture System – IAPS). The sample of 103 participants was stratified by gender and age. As a result of processing the research data, specific features of emotional response in the parameters of valence, arousal, and dominance for representatives of different genders and ages were defined. The large levels of valence, arousal strength, and dominance in men are distinguished from general trends. Although men evaluate corruption situations more favorably, they also perceive them as situations that can be controlled, potentially benefiting from them. In terms of arousal, both men and women show similar trends in a young and mature age. In an old age, men increase their activation of corruption-related situations, while women no longer show interest in them. In terms of valence and arousal, middle-aged men and women are similar in their emotional assessments of situations involving corruption.