Affective Communication: Definition and explanation

Affective Communication: Definition and explanation

Terms

Affective communication refers to the expression of feelings about things, others and themselves. In effect, expressions of positive, negative or even neutral feelings about something or someone is also an expression of that individual or group’s values and beliefs. Affective communications are usually seen as opinions or judgements about things.

Our values and beliefs give rise to our feelings and emotions towards things, including other people and ourselves. When we express or disclose an emotion in our communication, this is said to be an affective communication. For example “I don’t like that team”, or “I love this car”, or even, “I am not sure how I feel about this”.

Affective communications are disclosures of emotions and therefore values and beliefs. However the relationship between an expression or disclosure of an emotion often does not have a direct and simple correlation with an individual or group’s values and beliefs.

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