Affect from the perspective of psychoanalytical theories

Hardwired to connect, we do so through affects. Our brains, bodies, and minds are inseparable from the affects that animate them. The Affect is one of the central concepts in the field of theory and application of psychoanalysis as well as psychology. The importance of this concept, both clinically and theoretically, has led all schools of psychoanalysis and psychology to present their theory of affect. Considering the pervasive influence of psychoanalytical theories about affect in psychology, it is important to examine the concept of affect from the perspective of psychoanalysis approaches. Therefore, the purpose of the current research is to review the concept of affect from a psychoanalytical point of view to clarify it as much as possible and also to examine the role of affect in therapeutic techniques. In this article, affect is examined from the perspective of the most important schools of psychoanalysis, i.e. classical psychoanalysis, ego psychology, object relations, and French psychoanalysis. It is hoped that by clarifying this central concept as much as possible, better understanding and treatment of mental disorders will be facilitated.