One potential problem with cognitive approaches is their tendency to relegate emotions to a secondary status. Albert Ellis, for example, sees strong emotions as a result of an interaction between events in the environment and beliefs which we have.

But what about babies? We've all seen babies who seem to be feeling very strong emotions. Do these emotions result from their beliefs?  Affect Theory is an attempt to explain babies. We all understand that babies have at least rudimentary emotions.   It's a lot harder to think of them as having beliefs.  Affect theory differs greatly from cognitive approaches because it postulates that we are born with nine very basic emotions - called affects. All emotions stem from these affects.

Silvan Tomkins originally developed Affect Theory before cognitive theories were popular.  It is one of several evolutionary theories which postulate that there are a small number of innate affects.  Much of his original work is reputed to be quite difficult to read, so his ideas have been more popular when presented by others who follow his school of thought.  Chief among these is Donald Nathanson, M.D., the founder of the Silvan S. Tomkins Institute.   Nathanson's works on the topics of Shame and Affect Theory have begun a quiet revolution among psychotherapists.  Emotions have become clearer; and new light is shed on therapeutic techniques such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). 

Tompkins' Affect Theory is accompanied by his Script Theory.  As we get older we organize our experience into scenes, then into scripts which include emotions, past experiences, and guidelines for behavior.  (I don't fully understand Script Theory. Even Nathanson claims to not fully understand script theory.)    

Toward a New Psychotherapy - The Annual Colloquium of the Tomkins Institute is one of the best places to learn about Affect Theory and Script Theory.   Nathanson hosts the event, along with others who are active in research and clinical work on the theory. The 1998 Colloquium had several presentations on using EMDR as a technique for freeing people from destructive scripts in their lives; and Nathanson encouraged all of the therapists present to learn this technique.

Is Affect Theory the next trend in psychotherapy?  Quite possibly, but it has yet not reached the critical mass that it needs to dethrone cognitive therapy.  I expect big things from this theory.  Next time you spend time with an infant, ask yourself whether it has emotions.  Then ask why.   

What do you think?

For more information:

• Some Online Lecture Notes on Affect Theory
• Discuss Affect Theory with Donald Nathanson, M.D. and others at Behavior Online
• Affect Theory in Humans and Animals
• Mental Health Search