Affektives

Affektives (from Latin affectus) refers to the emotional or feeling-related aspects of mental life and behavior. The term is used in psychology and related fields to denote processes, states and traits that involve emotions, moods, affective responses and affect regulation, distinguishing these from cognitive (thinking) and conative (motivation/action) components.

In psychological science, affective phenomena are studied at multiple levels: subjective experience (feelings), physiological correlates (autonomic and neural activity), expressive behavior (facial expression, vocal tone) and cognitive-affective interactions (how emotions influence memory, attention and decision-making). Neuroscience locates many affective processes in limbic and paralimbic systems, while contemporary affective science emphasizes network interactions across brain regions.

In education and developmental psychology, the "affective domain" covers attitudes, values, motivation and emotional development, and is considered essential for learning outcomes and classroom climate. In medicine, the adjective appears in diagnostic terms such as affective disorders, historically synonymous with mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder.

Affective computing and human–computer interaction apply research on emotions to design systems that detect, respond to or simulate affect. Measurement approaches include self-report scales, behavioral observation, psychophysiological recording and neuroimaging.

Related concepts include emotion, mood, affect regulation, and empathy. Understanding affektives is central to clinical practice, education, human factors and any domain where emotions shape behavior and social interaction.