Definitionv1DF-171
Affect-as-information
the cognitive process where people use their current emotional state as evidence or information about the world, even when that emotional state is unrelated to the judgment being made
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely captures the Schwarz and Clore framework as described in the lesson, explaining how feelings become information used in judgments about products, risks, trustworthiness, competence, and arguments. It distinguishes between when this mechanism is valid versus when it's problematic, and connects it to the affect infusion model.