affective

/əˈfɛkɾɪv/

/əˈfɛktɪv/

Other forms: affectively

Affective is a word that crops up a lot in psychology—it means having to do with emotions or moods. Affective disorders are characterized by mood swings.

It can be tricky to remember the difference between effective and affective (but easier than distinguishing between effect and affect). Effective makes a judgment about how something works—an effective strategy is one that works well. Affective is about how someone acts, or feels.

Definitions of affective

1. adjective

   characterized by emotion
   synonyms: affectional, emotive

   emotional

   of more than usual emotion