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emotional valence

the value associated with a stimulus as expressed on a continuum from pleasant to unpleasant or from attractive to aversive. In factor analysis and multidimensional scaling studies, emotional valence is one of two axes (or dimensions) on which an emotion can be located, the other axis being arousal (expressed as a continuum from high to low). For example, happiness is typically characterized by pleasant valence and relatively high arousal, whereas sadness or depression is typically characterized by unpleasant valence and relatively low arousal.

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Psychology term of the day

November 24th 2024

modeling theory

modeling theory

the idea that changes in behavior, cognition, or emotional state result from observing someone else’s behavior or the consequences of that behavior. See observational learning; social learning theory.