Valence Focus and Arousal Focus: Individual Differences in the Structure of Affective Experience

The structure of affect is well represented as a circumplex. The results of a within-subject longitudinal study of self-reported mood indicate individual differences in the circumplex structure of affective experience. These differences can be captured by two constructs: valence focus and arousal focus. Valence focus is the degree to which individuals attend the hedonic component of their affective experience; arousal focus is the degree to which individuals attend the arousal component of their affective experience. In this study, differences in individuals' attention to the hedonic and arousal components of affective experience were related to observed correlations between specific affective elements, such as (a) ratings of anxious and depressed mood and (b) "Negative Affect" and "Positive Affect."