Abstract: Previous theories emphasizing valence and arousal dimensions of affect directed a number of experimental researches, but they have always gave rise to some controversies. Recently the motivational dimensional model of affect was proposed, in a word, affect of low motivational intensity broadens cognitive processes, whereas affect of high motivational intensity narrows cognitive processes. This model demonstrated that narrowing and broadening effects of other dimensions of affect to attention, memory processes and so on, which go beyond dichotomy of valence and arousal. In summary, this model have significant implications in understanding the interaction of cognition and emotion and must be further tested in future. It is critical to explain the operational definition of motivational dimension and develop relevant standard stimuli materials or tasks.

Key words: emotion, affect, motivational dimension, valence, arousal