Towards a psychological construct of being moved

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Affective Science
• Rhetoric

Background:

• The emotional state of 'being moved' is commonly referenced but lacks a clear psychological definition.
• Previous research has not fully established the eliciting conditions, emotional components, or cognitive appraisals associated with being moved.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychological construct of being moved.
• To identify eliciting scenarios, emotional ingredients, appraisal patterns, and the affective signature of being moved.

Main Methods:

• Three empirical studies were conducted.
• Investigated eliciting scenarios, emotional components, appraisal patterns, and affective qualities.
• Examined responses to real-life events and fictional artworks.

Main Results:

• Eliciting scenarios predominantly involve significant relationships and life events (e.g., death, birth, marriage, separation, reunion).
• Being moved involves a coactivation of positive and negative affect, classifying it as a mixed emotion, with both sadness and joy being prominent.
• Despite low-to-mid arousal, the experience of being moved is perceived as highly intense.
• Cognitive appraisals include low self-causation and control, alongside high compatibility with social norms and self-ideals.

Conclusions:

• Being moved is a distinct psychological construct characterized by mixed emotions, specific appraisal patterns, and high intensity.
• The findings provide a foundation for understanding the complex nature of being moved within affective science.
• This research delineates the unique features of being moved, differentiating it from other emotional states.