Measurement of Affective Response

Abstract

Abstract Affect has a long history in the social and behavioral sciences. It has played a central role in a wide range of theoretical developments and has comprised a large and active field of investigation. One reason for this prominence is that affect and mood are ubiquitous phenomena that are of intrinsic importance to all of us. Even without the benefit of research, each of us knows the relevance of changing affective states and our efforts to achieve the best possible mood. From a clinical perspective, extremes of mood partially define major psychiatric conditions (mania, depression, panic). These observations attest to the significance of affect in our everyday lives and to the importance of understanding the determinants of affect.