Definition
Core affect is the momentary blend of valence (pleasant–unpleasant) and arousal (activated–depleted) — the simple feeling before you label it anger, joy, or dread.
Origin
Dimensional affect models (Russell, 2011) treat core affect as continuous circumplex structure underlying mood and emotion words. Constructed-emotion accounts (Barrett) add that emotion concepts are recipes that categorize core affect plus context — sensation first, story second.
Mechanism
| Layer | Content |
|---|---|
| Core affect | Valence + arousal — fast, body-linked |
| Emotion concept | Named category — slower, language- and culture-shaped |
| Interoception | Sensory read of body state feeding valence/arousal |
Log signal (gut, heat, breath) before verdict (what it means) — especially when ambition or fall-fear runs hot.
Applications
When a feeling feels absolute, ask: what is the valence/arousal underneath, and what concept am I applying? Pair with Interoception and Biology (MoC) when body charge precedes the story.
Sources
Cite
- Russell, J. A., Yik, M., & Steiger, J. H. (2011). A 12-point circumplex structure of core affect. Emotion, 11(4), 705–731.
- How Emotions Are Made. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.