The authors propose that people's ideal affect (the affective states they value and would ideally like to feel) differs from their actual affect (the affective states they actually feel), and that cultural factors influence ideal affect more than actual affect. In two studies, they found that European American (EA) and Asian American (AA) individuals valued high-arousal positive affect (e.g., excitement) more than Hong Kong Chinese (CH) individuals, while CH and AA individuals valued low-arousal positive affect (e.g., calm) more than EA individuals. The discrepancy between ideal and actual affect correlated with depression across all groups. These findings highlight the distinctiveness of ideal and actual affect, show that culture influences ideal affect more than actual affect, and indicate that both play a role in mental health. The study also suggests that cultural variables and temperament shape ideal and actual affect differently, with cultural variables having a stronger influence on pure ideal affect and temperament on pure actual affect.The authors propose that people's ideal affect (the affective states they value and would ideally like to feel) differs from their actual affect (the affective states they actually feel), and that cultural factors influence ideal affect more than actual affect. In two studies, they found that European American (EA) and Asian American (AA) individuals valued high-arousal positive affect (e.g., excitement) more than Hong Kong Chinese (CH) individuals, while CH and AA individuals valued low-arousal positive affect (e.g., calm) more than EA individuals. The discrepancy between ideal and actual affect correlated with depression across all groups. These findings highlight the distinctiveness of ideal and actual affect, show that culture influences ideal affect more than actual affect, and indicate that both play a role in mental health. The study also suggests that cultural variables and temperament shape ideal and actual affect differently, with cultural variables having a stronger influence on pure ideal affect and temperament on pure actual affect.