A comparison of two models of emotion: Can measurement of emotion based on one model be used to make inferences about the other?

Two models of emotion (Positive Affect/Negative Affect and Bioinformational) were compared to determine whether information obtained using one model could be used to make inferences about the other. These models measure self-reported emotion along the primary dimensions of Positive Affect/ Negative Affect and Valence/Arousal, respectively. Although these two models of emotion are distinct, proponents of each model suggest that the dimensions should be related to one another in a specific manner. This assumption was directly tested using data collected from 95 undergraduates who participated in an emotion induction study. The results did not support the suggested relationship between these two models of emotion. In fact, it may be misleading to assume that data obtained by measuring dimensions from one of the models can be used to make inferences about dimensions of the other model.