Does Neutral Affect Exist? How Challenging Three Beliefs About Neutral Affect Can Advance Affective Research

Abstract

Researchers interested in affect have often questioned the existence of neutral affective states. In this paper, we review and challenge three beliefs that researchers might hold about neutral affect. These beliefs are: (1) it is not possible to feel neutral because people are always feeling something, (2) neutrality is not an affective state because affect must be positively or negatively valenced, and (3) neutral affect is unimportant because it does not influence cognition or behavior. We review the reasons these beliefs might exist and provide empirical evidence that questions them. Specifically, we argue that neutral affect is a felt experience that provides important valence-relevant information, which influences cognition and behavior. By dispelling these beliefs about neutral affect, we hope to shine a light on the assumptions that researchers hold about the nature of affect and to provide novel theoretical and methodological perspectives that help advance our understanding of the affective landscape.

Utilizing Neutral Affective States in Research: Theory, Assessment, and Recommendations

“…Empirical evidence supports this claim. For instance, when neutral affect, defined as feeling neutral or indifferent, was directly measured, it was not highly correlated with positive and negative affective states (Gallegos & Gasper, 2017; Gasper & Danube, 2016; Gasper et al, 2018; Gasper & Hackenbracht, 2015), it formed a third factor in various factor and cluster analyses (Daly et al, 1983; Gasper & Danube, 2016; Gasper et al, 2018; Gasper & Hackenbracht, 2015; Sonneville, Schapp, & Elshout, 1981, as cited in Frijda, 1986; Storm & Storm, 1987), and it arose even when respondents reported the presence of positive and negative affect (Gasper & Danube, 2016). Neutral affect also exerted unique effects, in that it predicted making neutral judgments even when positive, negative, and ambivalent affects were taken into account (Gasper & Danube, 2016).…”

“…Because neutrality is defined as the presence of neutral feelings, rather than as the absence of other affects, this definition allows for the possibility that neutrality might arise independently of positive and negative affective states (Daly, Lancee, & Polivy, 1983; Gasper & Danube, 2016; Gasper, Danube, & Hu, 2018; Gasper & Hackenbracht, 2015; Storm & Storm, 1987). Empirical evidence supports this claim.…”

“…For example, neutral affect signals a lack of preference (Gasper & Danube, 2016); boredom signals a lack of meaning (van Tilburg & Igou, 2012); and tiredness signals a lack of mental resources (Gaylin, 1979). Thus, neutrality as indifference is experienced as a slightly negative, deactivated state, but it is discriminable from feeling bored or tired (Gasper et al, 2018).…”

“…If neutral affect is not dependent on positive and negative affect (Gasper & Danube, 2016; Gasper et al, 2018), then the presence of neutral affect would not provide any information about whether positive or negative affect is responsible for an effect. Instead, neutral AIPs would provide information about how positive and negative AIPs function relative to a state in which people feel indifferent.…”

Developing a non‐verbal, self‐report assessment tool of action tendencies: The Depicted Action Tendencies (DAT) instrument

“…However, a neutral state in terms of action tendencies may not be characterized by a complete absence of emotions, in which case the drawing could resemble apathy or numbness belonging to Avoid Reward . Indeed, an overall feeling of not wanting or needing to take a particular action may involve the presence of positive affect (e.g., contentment; Gasper, Spencer & Hu, 2019).…”