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Cited by 1,481Psychometric Methodologies and TestingMental Health Research TopicsPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

On the bipolarity of positive and negative affect.

Russell, James A., Carroll, James M.·1999·Psychological Bulletin
DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.125.1.3
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Abstract

Is positive affect (PA) the bipolar opposite of, or is it independent of, negative affect (NA)? Previous analyses of this vexing question have generally labored under the false assumption that bipolarity predicts an invariant latent correlation between PA and NA. The predicted correlation varies with time frame, response format, and items selected to define PA and NA. The observed correlation also varies with errors inherent in measurement. When the actual predictions of a bipolar model are considered and error is taken into account, there is little evidence for independence of what were traditionally thought opposites. Bipolarity provides a parsimonious fit to existing data.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0033-2909.125.1.3

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  • Many EMA studies examining affect as a predictor of craving or smoking behavior subscribed to the circumplex model of emotion, which suggests that negative affect and positive affect are not independent factors and are bipolar ends of the same affective dimension.

    “One factor that has undoubtedly contributed to the poor characterization of PA’s role in smoking behavior and abstinence is that many EMA studies examining affect as a predictor of craving or smoking behavior subscribed to the circumplex model of emotion, which suggests that NA and PA are not independent factors of emotion and are, in fact, bipolar ends of the same affective dimension (Russell, 1”

    From Modeling naturalistic craving, withdrawal, and affect during early nicotine abstinence: A pilot ecological momentary assessment study. (2015) · cites this paper as Russell & Carroll, 1999

  • These pilot data were not consistent with the circumplex model of emotion which posits that NA and PA represent opposing ends of the same affective dimension.

    “In other words, these pilot data were not consistent with the circumplex model of emotion often utilized in EMA smoking studies which posits that NA and PA represent opposing ends of the same affective dimension (Russell, 1980; Russell & Carroll, 1999; Shiffman, 2013)”

    From Modeling naturalistic craving, withdrawal, and affect during early nicotine abstinence: A pilot ecological momentary assessment study. (2015) · cites this paper as Russell & Carroll, 1999

  • An alternative view derived from studies of emotional language and supported by Russell and colleagues is that valence is a bipolar dimension bisected by intensity, with emotions distributed in a circumplex around a neutral valence point and moderate intensity.

    “One alternative view, derived from studies of emotional language and supported by Russell and colleagues (Russell, 1980;Russell & Carroll, 1999), is that valence is a bipolar dimension bisected by intensity.Emotions are then distributed in a circle, or circumplex, around a neutral valence point and moderate intensity”

    From Emotional Intensity Predicts Autobiographical Memory Experience (2004) · cites this paper as Russell & Carroll, 1999

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Authors
Russell, J. A., & Carroll, J. M.
Affiliations
University of British Columbia (CA)
ORCID
Russell, James A.
Venue
Psychological Bulletin
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
1999
Volume
125
Issue
1
Pages
3-30
ISSN
  • 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1455
DOI
10.1037/0033-2909.125.1.3
OpenAlex
W2062530052
Cited by
1,481
References
90
Citations by year
2026: 31 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 102 · 2019: 79 · 2018: 87 · 2017: 70 · 2016: 55 · 2015: 59 · 2014: 82 · 2013: 67 · 2012: 90
FWCI
55.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords
positive affect, negative affect, bipolarity, bipolar model, affective states, measurement error, latent correlations, response format
MeSH terms
Affect, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Humans, Personality Inventory, Psychometrics

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