Affective intensity and its effects (AOARD 104011)

A new theory is proposed to account for the role of affect in understanding and evaluating performance under stress. There is no universal agreement on affect?s conceptualization or role in performance. In Affective Skill Theory (AST), affect is conceptualized as a skill that can be trained prior to an operation. As a skill, affect can also be used as a key variable in evaluating operation success based on the ability to assess the match between the affective skills of personnel with operational affective requirements. The theory has the potential to be highly valuable in supporting operational planning through identifying situations in the field which will impose high affective task demands on personnel and support assessment of the optimal affective level of expertise required of personnel to successfully complete the operation. This model of human performance conceptualizes affect as an integral component of an individual?s professional skills base. The proposal that affect can be evaluated as a skill was explored. A pilot study and associated theoretical work contribute to the literature on performance and emotion by conceptualization and subsequent measurement of affect as a skill which enables successful task completio