Affectivitat

Affectivitat is the quality or condition of being affective, relating to feelings, emotions, and mood. In psychology and related disciplines, it denotes the affective life—the systems and patterns of emotional experience that influence perception, judgment, and behavior. The term covers short-term emotions as well as more enduring states such as mood and temperament, and it encompasses how these feelings are felt, expressed, and regulated over time.

Its dimensions include valence (positive or negative), arousal (intensity), duration, and variability, and it interacts with cognition, memory, and attention. A person’s affective style or disposition refers to typical patterns of reaction, such as optimism, irritability, or empathy.

Philosophical and theoretical traditions—from Spinoza to contemporary affect theory—treat affectivity as a fundamental aspect of experience and social life, not merely a private interior state. In sociology and cultural studies, affectivity is analyzed in relation to social norms, embodiment, and cultural context.

In applied contexts, affectivity matters for mental health, education, work, and caregiving, influencing motivation, relationships, and well-being. Researchers measure affectivity through self-reports, observation, and physiological indicators, while acknowledging cross-cultural variations in how emotions are experienced and expressed.