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A Prompt Engineering Method for Generating Emotional Images for Psychological Research
Yuqing Lu1,2, Xin Hu3, Dan Zhang1,2
1Department of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Affective Science
|November 4, 2025
Summary
Artificial Intelligence (AI) image generation offers a scalable method for creating emotional image datasets for psychological research. This AI-generated emotional image set (AGEIS) effectively elicits target emotions and appears authentic.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
Background:
- Standardized image datasets are crucial for emotion research.
- Traditional methods for dataset creation are labor-intensive and limited in scope.
- AI-driven Text-to-Image Synthesis (TIS) presents a potential solution for generating emotional images.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and evaluate a novel AI-based procedure for generating emotional images for psychological research.
- To create an AI-Generated Emotional Image Set (AGEIS) covering seven distinct emotion categories.
- To assess the effectiveness and authenticity of AI-generated emotional images.
Main Methods:
- Developed a novel procedure involving Seed Prompt Formation, Prompt Set Generation, and TIS.
- Utilized AI tools like Midjourney and ChatGPT for image generation.
- Conducted human evaluations to assess emotion induction and perceived authenticity of generated images.
Main Results:
- The AI-generated images in AGEIS effectively and specifically induced target emotions.
- AGEIS images were perceived as comparably authentic to real photos.
- Images depicting disgust and tenderness were more frequently identified as AI-generated.
Conclusions:
- The proposed AI procedure offers a cost-effective and scalable method for generating emotional images.
- This approach can facilitate large-scale and longitudinal studies in emotion research.
- AI-generated images hold significant potential for advancing psychological research methodologies.
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