Affect theory

Affect theory is a framework emerging in the mid-1990s that challenges the idea that human identity and understanding are primarily shaped by language or abstract thought.

Instead, it emphasizes the role of the body, physical sensations, and emotions in how people experience and interpret the world.

The theory argues that feelings, gut reactions, and bodily responses are not just secondary to cognition but fundamental to how we make sense of reality.

This approach bridges a long-standing divide in Western philosophy between the mind (thought, reason) and the body (physicality, emotion).

Affect theory suggests that emotions and bodily experiences are not just personal but deeply social and cultural, influencing how groups and societies function.

Key contributors to this field include Canadian philosopher Brian Massumi and US literary critic Eve Sedgwick, who explored how embodied experiences shape identity and perception.