Affectivism: The homepage
Affectivism can be described as the approach in which the inclusion of affective processes in models of behavior, mind, and brain not only explains affective phenomena but, critically, further enhances the power to explain cognition and behavior. We argue that this approach complements behaviorism and cognitivism and could itself be described as constituting a new era.
Pr. David Sander, University of Geneva
Dr. Daniel Dukes, University of Geneva
Historically dismissed as trivial, emotion research now proves essential for explaining affective experiences—such as emotions, moods, and stress—and for illuminating the reasons behind human behavior and cognition. This expanding interest in affective sciences shows that questions once deemed unquantifiable or irrelevant, like why we feel certain ways, can be empirically addressed, enhancing the explanatory power of traditionally cognitive or behavioral models. The field’s influence is evident in rising citation counts and funding (Dukes et al., 2021), the emergence of dedicated societies, journals, and institutions, and its interdisciplinary reach across anthropology, computer science, economics, history, law, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and more. Its growing breadth and societal relevance suggest that affective science may herald a new academic era— “affectivism”—where emotional insight is integral to understanding both fundamental scientific questions and real‑world issues.
In the forthcoming Oxford handbook of Affectivism (publication expected in 2027), these themes are looked at in much greater detail. Organised broadly into discipline and theme sections, the discipline sections contain three “deep-dive chapters” on particular aspects of that discipline and an overview chapter which takes a much broader persepective not only on how that discipline has contributed to our understanding of all things affective, but also how that discipline itself has evolved or changed as a result. Other chapters take a look at either specific disciplines or applications in affective science.
This page will be added to when there are new events and publications linked to our affectivism project.
References:
Dukes, D., Abrams, K., Adolphs, R., Ahmed, M. E., Beatty, A., Berridge, K. C., Broomhall, S., Brosch, T., Campos, J. J., Clay, Z., Clément, F., Cunningham, W. A., Damasio, A., Damasio, H., D’Arms, J., Davidson, J. W., de Gelder, B., Deonna, J., de Sousa, R., Ekman, P., Ellsworth, P., Fehr, E., Fischer, A., Foolen, A., Frevert, U., Grandjean, D., Gratch, J., Greenberg, L., Greenspan, P., Gross, J. J., Halperin, E., Kappas, A., Keltner, D., Knutson, B., Konstan, D., Kret, M., Le Doux, J. E., Lerner, J. S., Levenson, R. W., Loewenstein, G., Manstead, A. S. R., Maroney, T. A., Moors, A., Niedenthal, P., Parkinson, B., Pavlidis, I., Pelachaud, C., Pollak, S. D., Pourtois, G., Roettger-Roessler, B., Russell, J. A., Sauter, D., Scarantino, A., Scherer, K. R., Stearns, P., Stets, J. E., Tappolet, C., Teroni, F., Tsai, J., Turner, J., Van Reekum, C., Vuilleumier, P., Wharton, T. & Sander, D. (online version). The rise of affectivism, Nature Human Behaviour. 5, 816–820. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01130-8.
Here is a publicly available, read-only link: https://rdcu.be/cmiCz
The Oxford handbook of Affectivism (due 2027).
Volume editors: Daniel Dukes (Swiss Center for the Affective Sciences, University of Geneva), Disa Sauter (University of Amsterdam, University of Oxford) and David Sander (Swiss Center for the Affective Science, University of Oxford).
Associate Editors: K. Barclay (Macquarie University, Sydney), J. Broekens (Leiden University), A. Foolen (Radboud University), D. Keltner (UC Berkeley), C. Pelachaud (CNRS and Sorbonne University), A. Scarantino (Georgia State University), J. E. Stets (UC Riverside), & P. Vuilleumier (Swiss Center for the Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Geneva).
The rise of affectivism, Nature Human Behaviour.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-021-01130-8
Here is a publicly available, read-only link: https://rdcu.be/cmiCz