The Effect of Affect

[DISCLAIMER]

As it pertains to this blogpost, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines the term “effect” as “an event or state that is brought about as the result of another (its cause).” Specifically, cause and effect is the principle of causality, establishing one event or action as the direct result of another.

As an example, if you place your hand in fire (Action), then you’ll likely sustain a burn (Consequence). Using the ABC model of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), it’s worth knowing that this Action-Consequence (A-C) connection doesn’t cause your mood.

Rather, from a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection view, you burn your hand (Action), Believe, “I’m incredibly stupid, and I can’t stand it, because it’s catastrophic that I hurt myself when I absolutely shouldn’t be so stupid,” as you then experience sadness (Consequence).

In particular, a negative appraisal of self, known as self-downing (i.e., “I’m incredibly stupid”), causes your unpleasant emotional experience with sorrow. Noteworthy, as it pertains to this blogpost, the APA defines the term “affect” as:

[A]ny experience of feeling or emotion, ranging from suffering to elation, from the simplest to the most complex sensations of feeling, and from the most normal to the most pathological emotional reactions.

Often described in terms of positive affect or negative affect, both mood and emotion are considered affective states. Along with cognition and conation, affect is one of the three traditionally identified components of the mind.

With healthy or unhealthy negative emotional affect, reactions have consequences. The effect of affect in the aforementioned hand-burning scenario may cause a behavioral response such as frowning, slumped posture, crying, or, in extreme circumstances, curling into a fetal position.

The takeaway is that an A-C connection doesn’t cause one’s emotional or behavioral reactions. Rather, the effect of affect is caused by a B-C connection. If you’d like to know more about emotional and behavioral responses, as well as REBT, then I’m here to try to help.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, Designed by Freepik, fair use

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