Circumplex Model of Emotion

The circumplex model [of emotion] focuses on determining how traits and emotions are structurally similar, and its underlying assumption is that a relatively seamless circular ordering, or circumplex, is an economical description of the relations among traits and emotions.

A model that attempts to categorize emotions. This model takes a circular form, with emotions' placement being relative to two axes. These axes represent the dimensions of (i) valence (positive-negative), and (ii) intensity (high-low). A high-intensity positive emotion may be euphoria, while a low-intensity positive emotion may be serenity. A high-intensity negative emotion may be grief, while a low-intensity negative emotion may be boredom.