Affect of the Month

Surprise-Startle acts as an attention "reset". Whatever had engaged the attention has been replaced by the event that elicited the surprise-startle response.  The attention is now on this event, and interest is often the next affect to arise to explore this unexpected situation.  For example, if it is a loud sound that elicited startle, one is drawn to find out where it came from, what caused it, and to determine whether it signals danger or not.  Perhaps this infant is surprised by the feeling of the water in her bath, or by something the photographer has done. What you do see is that infants show the surprise-startle response, which is not learned, but is innate.

Affects come in three 

basic flavors:

positive, neutral, or negative. 

Positive affects are inherently rewarding and we are motivated to do things to have them continue or get them back if they should be blocked. 

Negative affects are inherently punishing and we are motivated to do things to get rid of them, and avoid things that will arouse them. 

The one neutral affect is just that—neutral—it does not motivate us to do much of anything. 

The nine affects—listed in their positive, negative, or neutral categories—are as follows:

POSITIVE AFFECTS:

INTEREST-EXCITEMENT

ENJOYMENT-JOY

NEUTRAL AFFECT:

SURPRISE-STARTLE

NEGATIVE AFFECTS:

FEAR-TERROR

DISTRESS-ANGUISH

ANGER-RAGE

DISGUST

DISSMELL

SHAME-HUMILIATION

(the above is from A Primer in Affect Psychology by Vernon C. Kelly, Jr., M.D., page 7)