Valence, also known as hedonic tone, is a characteristic of emotions that determines their emotional affect (intrinsic appeal or repulsion).
Positive valence corresponds to the "goodness" or attractiveness of an object, event, or situation, making it appealing or desirable. Conversely, negative valence relates to "badness" or averseness, rendering something unappealing or undesirable.
This concept is not only used to describe the intrinsic qualities of objects and events but also categorizes emotions based on their inherent attractiveness or averseness.
History
This section does not cite any sources. (March 2023) |
The use of the term in psychology entered English with the translation from German ("Valenz") in 1935 of works of Kurt Lewin. The original German word suggests "binding", and is commonly used in a grammatical context to describe the ability of one word to semantically and syntactically link another, especially the ability of a verb to require a number of additional terms (e.g. subject and object) to form a complete sentence.
The term chemical valence has been used in physics and chemistry to describe the mechanism by which atoms bind to one another since the nineteenth century.
Phenomenology
Valence is an inferred criterion from instinctively generated emotions; it is the property specifying whether feelings/affects are positive, negative or neutral. The existence of at least temporarily unspecified valence is an issue for psychological researchers who reject the existence of neutral emotions (e.g. surprise, sublimation). However, other psychological researchers assume that neutral emotions exist. Two contrasting views in the phenomenology of valence are that of a constrained valence psychology, where the most intense experiences are generally no more than 10 times more intense than the mildest, and the Heavy-Tailed Valence hypothesis, which states that the range of possible degrees of valence is far more extreme.
Measurement
Valence could be assigned a number and treated as if it were measured, but the validity of a measurement based on a subjective report is questionable. Measurement based on observations of facial expressions, using the Facial Action Coding System and microexpressions (see Paul Ekman) or muscle activity detected through facial electromyography, or on modern functional brain imaging may overcome this objection. The perceived emotional valence of a facial expression is represented in the right posterior superior temporal sulcus and medial prefrontal cortex.
Examples
"Negative" emotions like anger and fear have a negative valence. But positive emotions like joy have a positive valence. Positively valenced emotions are evoked by positively valenced events, objects, or situations. The term is also used to describe the hedonic tone of feelings, certain behaviors (for example, approach and avoidance), goal attainment or non-attainment, and conformity with or violation of norms. Ambivalence can be viewed as conflict between positive and negative valence-carriers.
Theorists taking a valence-based approach to study affect, judgment, and choice posit that emotions with the same valence (e.g., anger and fear or pride and surprise) produce a similar influence on judgments and choices. Suffering is negative valence and the opposite of this is pleasure or happiness.
See also
- Optimism bias
- Sentiment Analysis
- Vedanā
References
- Nico H. Frijda, The Emotions. Cambridge(UK): Cambridge University Press, 1986. p. 207
- Vazard J (2022). "Feeling the unknown: emotions of uncertainty and their valence". Erkenntnis. 89 (4): 1275–1294. doi:10.1007/s10670-022-00583-1. S2CID 250417356.
- Hu, C, Wang Q, Han T, Weare E, Fu G (2017). "Differential emotion attribution to neutral faces of own and other races". Cognition and Emotion. 31 (2): 360–368. doi:10.1080/02699931.2015.1092419. PMID 26465265. S2CID 24973774.
- Gómez-Emilsson, Andrés; Percy, Chris (16 November 2023). "The heavy-tailed valence hypothesis: the human capacity for vast variation in pleasure/pain and how to test it". Frontiers in Psychology. 14. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1127221. PMC 10687198. PMID 38034319.
- Kliemann, Dorit; Jacoby, Nir; Anzellotti, Stefano; Saxe, Rebecca R. (2016-11-16). "Decoding task and stimulus representations in face-responsive cortex". Cognitive Neuropsychology. 33 (7–8): 362–377. doi:10.1080/02643294.2016.1256873. ISSN 0264-3294. PMC 5673491. PMID 27978778.
- "Negative Valence Systems". National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Retrieved 2023-07-25.
- "Positive Valence Systems". National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Retrieved 2023-07-25.
Valence also known as hedonic tone is a characteristic of emotions that determines their emotional affect intrinsic appeal or repulsion Positive valence corresponds to the goodness or attractiveness of an object event or situation making it appealing or desirable Conversely negative valence relates to badness or averseness rendering something unappealing or undesirable This concept is not only used to describe the intrinsic qualities of objects and events but also categorizes emotions based on their inherent attractiveness or averseness HistoryThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message The use of the term in psychology entered English with the translation from German Valenz in 1935 of works of Kurt Lewin The original German word suggests binding and is commonly used in a grammatical context to describe the ability of one word to semantically and syntactically link another especially the ability of a verb to require a number of additional terms e g subject and object to form a complete sentence The term chemical valence has been used in physics and chemistry to describe the mechanism by which atoms bind to one another since the nineteenth century PhenomenologyValence is an inferred criterion from instinctively generated emotions it is the property specifying whether feelings affects are positive negative or neutral The existence of at least temporarily unspecified valence is an issue for psychological researchers who reject the existence of neutral emotions e g surprise sublimation However other psychological researchers assume that neutral emotions exist Two contrasting views in the phenomenology of valence are that of a constrained valence psychology where the most intense experiences are generally no more than 10 times more intense than the mildest and the Heavy Tailed Valence hypothesis which states that the range of possible degrees of valence is far more extreme MeasurementValence could be assigned a number and treated as if it were measured but the validity of a measurement based on a subjective report is questionable Measurement based on observations of facial expressions using the Facial Action Coding System and microexpressions see Paul Ekman or muscle activity detected through facial electromyography or on modern functional brain imaging may overcome this objection The perceived emotional valence of a facial expression is represented in the right posterior superior temporal sulcus and medial prefrontal cortex Examples Negative emotions like anger and fear have a negative valence But positive emotions like joy have a positive valence Positively valenced emotions are evoked by positively valenced events objects or situations The term is also used to describe the hedonic tone of feelings certain behaviors for example approach and avoidance goal attainment or non attainment and conformity with or violation of norms Ambivalence can be viewed as conflict between positive and negative valence carriers Theorists taking a valence based approach to study affect judgment and choice posit that emotions with the same valence e g anger and fear or pride and surprise produce a similar influence on judgments and choices Suffering is negative valence and the opposite of this is pleasure or happiness See alsoOptimism bias Sentiment Analysis VedanaReferencesNico H Frijda The Emotions Cambridge UK Cambridge University Press 1986 p 207 Vazard J 2022 Feeling the unknown emotions of uncertainty and their valence Erkenntnis 89 4 1275 1294 doi 10 1007 s10670 022 00583 1 S2CID 250417356 Hu C Wang Q Han T Weare E Fu G 2017 Differential emotion attribution to neutral faces of own and other races Cognition and Emotion 31 2 360 368 doi 10 1080 02699931 2015 1092419 PMID 26465265 S2CID 24973774 Gomez Emilsson Andres Percy Chris 16 November 2023 The heavy tailed valence hypothesis the human capacity for vast variation in pleasure pain and how to test it Frontiers in Psychology 14 doi 10 3389 fpsyg 2023 1127221 PMC 10687198 PMID 38034319 Kliemann Dorit Jacoby Nir Anzellotti Stefano Saxe Rebecca R 2016 11 16 Decoding task and stimulus representations in face responsive cortex Cognitive Neuropsychology 33 7 8 362 377 doi 10 1080 02643294 2016 1256873 ISSN 0264 3294 PMC 5673491 PMID 27978778 Negative Valence Systems National Institute of Mental Health NIMH Retrieved 2023 07 25 Positive Valence Systems National Institute of Mental Health NIMH Retrieved 2023 07 25 Look up valence in Wiktionary the free dictionary
