ABSTRACT
Affects are often considered in two contradictory ways: commonly, as an enduring aspect of a person's state of mind, and theoretically, as transient in nature and unrelated to a person's character. Although affect has been conceptualized as time limited and fluid in nature, repetitive sequences of affects can be viewed as having continuity and stability over time. Our daily experience of ourselves and others confirms our commonsense understanding that we each have a predictable, prevailing affect that is a signature aspect of our character. This suggests that our theoretical conceptualizations be reexamined, taking into account affect sequences and their continuity over time. An affect sequence is here defined as the experience and expression of a variety of affects in an ordered and organized manner within a given time period. Given its organized nature, an affect sequence is capable of repetition at other points in time.
