The affect system has parallel and integrative processing components: Form follows function.
Abstract
The affect system has been shaped by the hammer and chisel of adaptation and natural selection such that form follows function. The characteristics of the system thus differ across the nervous system as a function of the unique constraints existent at each level. For instance, although physical limitations constrain behavioral expressions and incline behavioral predispositions toward a bipolar (good—bad, approach—withdraw) organization, these limiting conditions lose their power at the level of underlying mechanisms. According to the authors ' model of evaluative space ( J. T. Cacioppo & G. G. Berntson, 1994; J. T. Cacioppo, W. L. Gardner, & G. G. Berntson, 1997), the common metric governing approach—withdrawal is generally a single dimension at response stages that itself is the consequence of multiple operations, such as the activation function for positivity (appetition) and the activation function for negativity (aversion), at earlier affective processing stages.
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A sizeable body of evidence suggests that positive affect and negative affect are independent dimensions with distinct underlying neurological and psychological constructs, and an individual can concurrently experience heightened positive affect and negative affect.
“However, a sizeable body of evidence suggests that PA and NA are indeed independent dimensions with distinct underlying neurological and psychological constructs, and an individual can concurrently experience, for example, heightened PA and NA (Cacioppo, Gardner, & Berntson, 1999; Cook et al., 2004; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988; Watson & Tellegen, 1985).”
From Modeling naturalistic craving, withdrawal, and affect during early nicotine abstinence: A pilot ecological momentary assessment study. (2015) · cites this paper as Cacioppo, Gardner, & Berntson, 1999
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- Authors
- Cacioppo, J. T., Gardner, W. L., & Berntson, G. G.
- Affiliations
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 1999-05
- Volume
- 76
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 839-855
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2112283624
- Cited by
- 1,217
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 39 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 63 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 62 · 2014: 63 · 2013: 59 · 2012: 66
- FWCI
- 8.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- parallel computing, integrative processing, approach-withdrawal, bipolarity, aversion, adaptive evolution, natural selection, behavioral predispositions
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