Juan Luis Lorda. Curso de Antropología 8. Estructura de la afectividad

Understanding Afectividad and Its Role in Human Behavior

Introduction to Afectividad

• The discussion begins with a focus on the concept of afectividad, which relates to the will and its spontaneous and deliberate inclinations. It emphasizes the connection between knowledge and emotional reactions.

Knowledge and Emotional Responses

• The speaker highlights that both sensitive knowledge (immediate sensory perception) and intellectual understanding provoke emotional responses in humans, similar to how animals react through passions.

The Nature of Preferences

• A quote from José Ortega y Gasset is introduced: "We are, before anything else, a natural system of preferences and disdain." This underscores that our personality is largely defined by our affective structure.

Instinctual Basis of Affects

• The foundation of affects includes instinctual drives shared with animals—survival instincts, hunger, sexuality, and comfort—which shape personal experiences and preferences.

Personal Ideals and Aspirations

• Individuals develop a range of affections based on personal experiences—interests like music or sports—and broader ideals such as wanting to be honorable or heroic. These elements influence behavior at various levels.

Conflicts Among Affections

• Conflicts can arise between different desires; for instance, one may feel passionate about playing piano but also experience hunger. Such conflicts illustrate the complexity of human emotions.

The Impact of Dominant Loves on Personality

Defining Personal Profiles Through Affection

• The dominant affections in one's life significantly shape their personality profile. For example, an overwhelming love for alcohol can overshadow other affections.

Sacrifice Driven by Love

• Different motivations lead individuals to sacrifice differently; love for children might drive selflessness while ambition could lead to extreme sacrifices.

Christian Perspective on Love Hierarchy

• From a Christian viewpoint, prioritizing love for God above all else organizes other loves appropriately within one's life—a concept echoed by St. Augustine regarding virtue being linked to the order of loves.

Variations in Afectividad Across Contexts

Gender Differences in Preferences

• There are inherent differences in what men and women desire emotionally; these variations reflect nuanced perspectives shaped by gender.

Age-related Changes in Interests

Understanding Human Affective States

The Impact of Health on Emotional Response

• Discussion on how older individuals react differently to situations compared to younger ones, emphasizing the role of health in emotional responses.

• Reference to Edgar Allan Poe's quote about convalescence, highlighting the transition from boredom (ennui) to a renewed interest in life as one recovers from illness.

Variability of Interest and Mood

• Explanation of how one's affective state fluctuates based on health; when feeling well, there is an increase in interest and engagement with surroundings.

• Introduction of biorhythms and their influence on mood, noting that our emotional vitality varies throughout the day.

Environmental Influences on Affectivity

• The effect of sunlight on activity levels; increased exposure leads to heightened energy and engagement.

• Historical context regarding characterology in psychology, which studied physical characteristics' influence on personality traits.

Characterology: Physicality and Personality

• Distinction between different body types (athletic vs. non-athletic), illustrating how these types may respond differently to challenges.

• Recognition that personality is not solely determined by physicality but also involves mental reasoning and attitudes.

Historical Perspectives on Character Classification

• Mention of Aristotle's contributions through his disciple Theophrastus regarding typified characters among individuals.

• Overview of attempts at classifying personalities based on internal traits, with reference to influential works like those by French psychologist Lesén.

Key Traits in Personality Assessment

• Identification of three main characteristics for assessing personality: emotivity (emotional responsiveness), immediacy (reaction speed), and activity level (energy).

• Description of classifications used in education for profiling children based on their emotional reactions and activity levels.

Practical Applications and Limitations

• Examples provided for various personality types derived from the aforementioned traits, such as "active" or "passionate."