The theme of affect has always captivated both philosophers and scientists, assuming an increasingly central position in the psychological, neuropsychological, and psychoanalytic debates. Salvatore et al. propose an intriguing and comprehensive model of affect (Affective Pertinentization model; APER), aiming to elucidate its central role in meaning-making – i.e., the human activity of interpretation of reality. The APER model posits that affect is “the global, bipolar pattern of neurophysiological activity in terms of which the organism maps the instant-by-instant variation of its environment." The model is grounded on the idea that affect is a multidimensional structure. In the APER model, through a continuous interaction between its Affective Landscape (AFL) and Phase Space Meaning (PSM), affect renders the individual’s behavior pertinent. Within the AFL, there are n affective dimensions present at any given moment: each affective dimension activates a region of the PSM, which delineates the borders of potential meaning, thus limiting their overlapping and potential conflicts in the individual’s mind. The process of pertinentization represents an innovative element in the study of affect. The APER model has several strengths, including its ability to integrate various levels of analysis, from neurophysiological mechanisms to cultural and social dimensions. The model addresses several challenging issues, including the intertwining between affect and sensory modalities, the determinants of psychopathology, and the spreading of affective forms of thinking and behaving in society. However, Salvatore and colleagues also acknowledge some unresolved issues and a need for future developments of the APER model. This calls for further research to address controversial topics, such as the definition of affect, its ontogenesis, and individual differences in affective processing. The following sections will present philosophical, epistemological, and clinical reflections on the advantages and limits of the APER model, in the hope that the debate on the role of affect in the human meaning-making process may further develop.
More than one effect in every affect
Costanzo, Antonino;Schimmenti, Adriano
2024-01-01
Abstract
The theme of affect has always captivated both philosophers and scientists, assuming an increasingly central position in the psychological, neuropsychological, and psychoanalytic debates. Salvatore et al. propose an intriguing and comprehensive model of affect (Affective Pertinentization model; APER), aiming to elucidate its central role in meaning-making – i.e., the human activity of interpretation of reality. The APER model posits that affect is “the global, bipolar pattern of neurophysiological activity in terms of which the organism maps the instant-by-instant variation of its environment." The model is grounded on the idea that affect is a multidimensional structure. In the APER model, through a continuous interaction between its Affective Landscape (AFL) and Phase Space Meaning (PSM), affect renders the individual’s behavior pertinent. Within the AFL, there are n affective dimensions present at any given moment: each affective dimension activates a region of the PSM, which delineates the borders of potential meaning, thus limiting their overlapping and potential conflicts in the individual’s mind. The process of pertinentization represents an innovative element in the study of affect. The APER model has several strengths, including its ability to integrate various levels of analysis, from neurophysiological mechanisms to cultural and social dimensions. The model addresses several challenging issues, including the intertwining between affect and sensory modalities, the determinants of psychopathology, and the spreading of affective forms of thinking and behaving in society. However, Salvatore and colleagues also acknowledge some unresolved issues and a need for future developments of the APER model. This calls for further research to address controversial topics, such as the definition of affect, its ontogenesis, and individual differences in affective processing. The following sections will present philosophical, epistemological, and clinical reflections on the advantages and limits of the APER model, in the hope that the debate on the role of affect in the human meaning-making process may further develop.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
