Understanding theAffect Dimension

In SOAR, Affect is the dimension most people misunderstand. It's not just 'how do I feel?' It's 'what do these feelings reveal about values and relationships?'

Feelings as Data

Anger tells you a boundary was crossed. Anxiety tells you something feels uncertain. Excitement tells you something matters. These aren't random — they're signals.

The Affect dimension asks: what are these signals telling you?

The Relational Layer

Affect isn't just internal. It includes the emotional dynamics between people. How does the other person feel? What do they value? Where might your values conflict?

• Your emotions — What you're feeling and why.
• Their emotions — What they might be feeling.
• The dynamic — How these interact and influence each other.
• The values — What matters to everyone involved.

Logic tells you what's true. Affect tells you what matters.

Both are necessary. Neither is sufficient.