Affective-Motivational States

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Affective-Motivational States: Affective motivational states combine subjective, positive or negative emotion with an urge to either approach or avoid a stimulus. Emotions that drive our actions or motivation to act are influenced by such factors as pleasure, displeasure, and arousal level. Affective motivational states describe valence (emotion’s positive/negative quality) and arousal (level of physiological activation or intensity). An action tendency is how motivated we are to move toward something desirable (positive valence, high-to-low arousal) or move away from something unpleasant (negative valence, high-to-low arousal).Positive valence/high arousal, leading to approach behavior: Feeling motivated to exercise

• Negative valence/high arousal, leading to avoidance behavior: Feeling anxious about something 
• Positive valence/low arousal, no strong urge to act: Feeling content and relaxed, watching a movie

Negative valence/low arousal, no strong urge to act: Feeling bored and listless