The Importance of Embedding Diversity Science Frameworks in Affective Science

Both affective experience and affect regulation can be influenced by various social, historical, political, and economic systems and structures. These contingent and particularized influences arise in part through the shaping of how people and communities construct, navigate, and are affected by personal and collective identities, inter-group relations, and social hierarchies. In this commentary, we discuss why and how greater integration of affective science with central tenets of, and frameworks from, diversity science —“the study of the interpretation and construction of human differences” — would enhance the field’s understanding of a wide variety of consequential affective phenomena. Throughout, we illustrate this premise by drawing primarily on examples of research on affective consequences of, and affect regulation in the context of, identity-related stigma. We conclude with reflections and recommendations.