Types of affect in psychology
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Types of Affect in Psychology
Positive and Negative Affect: Bivariate and Bipolar Models
In psychology, affect is often categorized into positive and negative types. The debate on whether these affects are independent (bivariate view) or inversely related (unidimensional, bipolar view) has been extensive. Both models have empirical support, but the Dynamic Model of Affect (DMA) integrates these views, suggesting that both models can be valid under different conditions . This model helps in analyzing how positive and negative affects function concurrently.
Affective Dynamics: Instability, Inertia, and Differentiation
Affective dynamics refer to the patterns and changes in emotional states over time. Three key types of affective dynamics are affective instability, emotional inertia, and emotional differentiation. These dynamics are crucial in understanding psychological disorders and symptoms. Affective instability involves rapid changes in emotional states, emotional inertia refers to the resistance to change in emotional states, and emotional differentiation is the ability to distinguish between different emotions . These dynamics are measured using time-intensive methods like ecological momentary assessment.
Psychological Structure of Affects
The psychological structure of affects involves the development, regression, and influence of emotions on behavior and personal reactions. Affects are associated with specific situations, reactions, feelings, bodily gestures, facial expressions, and words. They can also acquire protective functions and influence the psyche and consciousness . This structure highlights how emotions are integrated into our overall psychological functioning.
Co-occurrence and Intensity of Affects
Research has shown that emotions of the same hedonic valence (e.g., fear and anger) tend to co-occur, while positive and negative affects do not occur together at high levels of intensity. This mutual exclusion at high intensity levels challenges the notion of unrelated discrete emotions and suggests that positive and negative affects are not strictly independent . The relationship between these affects varies depending on their intensity.
Psychometric Principles of Affect
The correlation between affects of the same valence tends to be substantial, while the correlation between affects of opposite valence is generally weak. However, this correlation can vary, and some same-valenced pairs may have weak correlations, while oppositely valenced pairs may have substantial correlations. This variability challenges the traditional psychometric principles and suggests a more complex relationship between different types of affect .
Core Affect and Emotional Episodes
Core affect refers to the basic states of feeling good or bad, energized or enervated. These states influence reflexes, perception, cognition, and behavior and can be experienced as free-floating moods or attributed to specific causes, leading to emotional episodes. Core affect plays a central role in the perception of stimuli, motives, empathy, and emotion regulation .
Psychoanalytic Theory of Affects
According to psychoanalytic theory, affects are complex mental phenomena that include ideas and sensations of pleasure and unpleasure. These sensations are connected with the gratification or lack of gratification of instinctual drives. The development and differentiation of affects are integral to the development of the ego and superego .
Affect as Information
The affect-as-information framework posits that affect provides embodied information about value and importance. Positive affect promotes accessible responses and dominant modes of thinking, while negative affect inhibits them. The arousal dimension of affect amplifies reactions, leading to intensified evaluations and enhanced memory for events .
Brain Basis of Positive and Negative Affect
The brain basis of affect involves a flexible set of valence-general regions rather than distinct systems for positive and negative affect. This finding supports the affective workspace hypothesis, which suggests that valence is implemented flexibly across different instances by limbic and paralimbic brain regions .
Independence of Positive and Negative Affect
Studies have shown that positive and negative affects can be independent, especially over longer time periods. The correlation between these affects varies depending on the time frame, with the strongest negative correlation occurring during emotional times. This suggests that researchers should focus on the processes underlying both positive and negative affect to understand their relative independence .
Conclusion
Understanding the types of affect in psychology involves exploring various models and dynamics, the psychological structure of emotions, and their brain basis. Positive and negative affects can be both independent and interrelated, depending on their intensity and the time frame considered. These insights are crucial for advancing our understanding of emotional processes and their implications for psychological well-being.
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