The Fascinating Framework: Circumplex Model of Arousal and Valence

Emotions—the kaleidoscope of human experience—have long fascinated psychologists, poets, and philosophers alike. But how do we make sense of this intricate tapestry of feelings? Enter the Circumplex Model, a compass for navigating the emotional terrain. Picture a two-dimensional map where emotions find their coordinates based on two fundamental axes: Arousal and Valence. Buckle up as we delve into this captivating circumplex model of arousal and valence, exploring the peaks of excitement, the valleys of calm, and the emotional crossroads where joy and sorrow intersect.

What Is the Circumplex Model?

Early theories of emotions drawn from “self-reported affective states have typically concluded that there are between six and twelve independent monopolar factors of affect, such as degree of sadness, anxiety, anger, elation, tension, and the like” (Russell, 1980). In 1954, Harold Schlosberg broke from the traditional mold of mapping emotions. He suggested that “instead of treating emotion as a special state, differing qualitatively from other states, the theory locates behavior on a continuum that includes all behavior. This continuum, general level of activation, has its low end in sleep, its middle ranges in alert attention, and its high end in strong emotions” (Schlosberg, 1954).

Schlosberg also posits that emotion should be further evaluated by direction of behavior and facial expressions. A few decades later, James Russell expanding on the Schlosberg’s activation theory of emotion, creating the circumplex model of affect. The Circumplex Model posits that emotions can be mapped along two primary axes: arousal and valence.

Imagine a celestial map—a mandala of feelings. In Russell’s model, emotions are distributed in a two-dimensional circular space. Each emotion finds its spot based on its valence (pleasantness or unpleasantness) and arousal (calmness or intensity). Lisa Feldman Barrett PhD explains that “your affect is always some combination of valence and arousal” (Barrett, 2018). 

Daniel Siegel, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, explains that the primary emotional experience is “one of increased energy and alertness.” Following the arousal, the brain must further “appraise the meaning of the stimulus and of the aroused state itself.” From the appraisal, primary emotions are “experienced as developing ‘hedonic tone’ or ‘valence.’” The process of appraisal gives emotions their “internal quality of being positive or negative” (Siegel, 2020).

Visualizing the Circumplex Model

Imagine a circle divided into four quadrants:

• The upper right quadrant (I) represents high-arousal positive emotions.
• The lower right quadrant (IV) captures low-arousal positive emotions.
• The lower left quadrant (III) denotes low-arousal negative feelings.
• The upper left quadrant (II) illustrates high-arousal negative emotions.

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By placing different emotions within this circular framework, individuals can better grasp how various feelings relate to one another—both in terms of similarity and contrast.

The Axes Explained

Arousal Axis

Arousal is a physiological state. Accordingly, arousal is correlated with neural activity. The ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) in the brainstem plays a key role, along with neurotransmitter systems like norepinephrine, acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, and histamine. These systems regulate wakefulness, alertness, and sensory responsiveness. Additionally, structures like the posterior cortex, limbic system, and basal forebrain contribute to cortical activity and overall arousal.

The arousal axis specifically pertains to the level of activation or alertness associated with different emotional states. The level of arousal is associated with the importance of the stimuli that is activating our response. Joseph LeDoux explains the things we attend to and remember are “the things that are important to us.” This is because cognitive processing is accompanied by emotional arousal. Emotional arousal is not stop a passing simple reaction but an element often used “to guide our behavior toward or away from the situation that the emotionally arousing stimulus signifies” (LeDoux, 2003).

In this model, the arousal dimension ranges from low to high levels of activation:

• Low Arousal: Emotions in this category are associated with feelings of calmness, relaxation, and tranquility. Examples include contentment, boredom, and sadness. These emotions typically involve a lower heart rate and reduced physiological activity.
• High Arousal: Conversely, emotions characterized by high arousal are linked to heightened energy levels and increased physiological responses. Examples include excitement, anger, fear, and joy. These emotions often trigger fight-or-flight responses and elevate heart rates.

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Overall, the arousal axis is crucial for categorizing feelings based on their energetic quality—helping us grasp both our own emotional states as well as those expressed by others.

Valence Axis

In James Russell’s Circumplex Model of Affect, the valence axis represents the dimension of pleasantness versus unpleasantness in emotional experiences. Siegel explains that at the most basic level, “valence can be labeled as good and involve approach, or can be labeled as bad and involve withdrawal” (Siegel, 2020). This corresponds with Schlosberg’s concept of direction of behavior. The positive valence motivates action of seizing opportunity while the negative valence is protective in nature.

This axis helps categorize emotions based on how positively or negatively they are perceived.

The valence dimension ranges from negative to positive:

• Negative Valence: Emotions with a negative valence are associated with unpleasant feelings and often provoke discomfort or distress. Examples include sadness, anger, fear, and disgust. These emotions typically reflect adverse situations or reactions that individuals seek to avoid.
• Positive Valence: In contrast, emotions characterized by positive valence are tied to pleasant feelings and often result in enjoyment or satisfaction. Examples include happiness, excitement, love, and contentment. These emotions generally arise from favorable circumstances or fulfilling experiences.

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The valence axis is essential for distinguishing between how people feel emotionally—whether those feelings contribute to their overall sense of well-being or detract from it—and provides insight into motivation and behavioral responses related to different emotional states. Understanding where specific emotions lie on this axis can aid in emotion regulation strategies and enhance interpersonal communication by clarifying emotional expressions and their implications.

See Emotional Valence for more on this topic

Combination of the Two Axes (Quadrants)

This visualization aids researchers and practitioners in comprehending not just what people feel but also how intensely they experience those feelings. Understanding where specific emotions fall on the circumplex can enhance emotion regulation strategies in various contexts such as therapy or personal development.

When combined, these two dimensions create a comprehensive map of emotional experiences:

• Quadrant I (High Arousal/Positive Valence): This quadrant contains emotions that are high in pleasantness and high in arousal. These emotions include excitement, enthusiasm, and other positively charged states that get our hearts racing and our spirits lifted.
• Quadrant II (Low Arousal/Positive Valence): This quadrant contains emotions that are high in pleasantness and low in arousal. These emotions include calmness, contentment, and serene states that evoke a sense of peacefulness and relaxation.
• Quadrant III (High Arousal/Negative Valence): This quadrant contains emotions that are high in unpleasantness and low in arousal. These emotions include feelings of sadness, boredom, and lethargy.
• Quadrant IV (Low Arousal/Negative Valence): This quadrant contains emotions that are high in unpleasantness and high in arousal. These emotions include anxiety, fear, and intense agitation.

Complexity of an Emotion

Although the circumplex is helpful in identifying and understanding emotion, we must not forget that the circumstance is a conceptual model. Each incident of emotion, such as sadness, is dynamic both in arousal and valence. Basically, the experience of sadness is not uniform. Russell wrote that in using self-report that each word describing emotion “appears to lack shape boundaries in the sense that it was possible to place it in a number of categories” (Russell, 1980).

Identifying feeling states, even with the circumplex, is highly subjective. Culture and experience all play into the subjective measuring of emotion.

Beyond the Binary

Mixed Emotions: But life isn’t monochromatic. Sometimes, emotions blend like watercolors on a canvas. The Circumplex Model acknowledges these hybrids—mixed emotions that defy neat categorization. Picture joy and sorrow holding hands, their dance steps intricate yet harmonious. In this emotional tango, adjacent feelings share a quadrant, whispering secrets across the divide.

Associated Concepts

• Positive Emotions: these are feeling affects and mental states characterized by optimism, joy, gratitude, hope, love, and contentment. They play a crucial role in promoting overall well-being and psychological resilience.
• Basic Emotions: These refer to a set of primal, universal emotions that are considered to be innate and shared across cultures. The concept of basic emotions is associated with pioneering research by psychologists such as Paul Ekman and Carroll Izard.
• Negative Affect: This is the subjective experience of discomforting emotional states. We consider experiencing emotions such as anxiety, depression, stress, sadness, worry, guilt, shame, anger, and envy as negative affect.
• Behavioral Activation System: This is a theorized neurological system activated in response to the signals of reward, motivating approach behaviors.
• Affective Neuroscience: This is the science of how the brain processes emotions. Affective neuroscience addresses the affective aspects of the physical brain, and the corresponding cognitive processes of the mind.
• Cognitive Arousal Theory: these theories explore the link between cognition, emotion, and physiological arousal. Proposed by Schachter and Singer, it emphasizes the role of cognitive interpretation in shaping emotional experiences.
• Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance Model: this model, developed by Albert Mehrabian and James A. Russell, measures emotions using three dimensions: Pleasure, Arousal, and Dominance. By understanding these dimensions, we gain insights into emotional experiences and their impact on behavior and decision-making.

A Few Words by Psychology Fanatic

The Circumplex Model of Arousal and Valence provides an accessible framework for understanding our rich tapestry of emotional experiences. By mapping feelings onto dimensions of arousal and valence, individuals gain clarity about their own emotional landscapes while professionals across fields harness its power for practical applications—from therapy sessions to marketing strategies.

As we continue exploring human emotions’ intricacies through models like these—and further research unfolds—we enrich our understanding not just academically but also personally—leading us toward healthier relationships with ourselves and others around us.

As we embark on this journey through the Circumplex Model, let us remember that emotions are our compass, guiding us through the labyrinth of existence. Whether we pirouette with delight or grapple with despair, each emotion paints a stroke on the canvas of our lives. 

Last Update: August 30, 2025

References:

Barrett, Lisa Feldman (2018). How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain. Mariner Books; Illustrated edition.
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LeDoux, Joseph (2003). Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are. Penguin Books.
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Russell, J. (1980). A circumplex model of affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39(6), 1161-1178. DOI: 10.1037/h0077714
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Schlosberg, Harold (1954). Three dimensions of emotion. Psychological Review, 61(2), 81-88. DOI: 10.1037/h0054570
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Siegel, Daniel J. (2020). The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are. The Guilford Press; 3rd edition.
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