In view of the philosophical problems that vex the debate on situated
affectivity, it can seem wise to focus on simple cases. Accordingly, theorists
often single out scenarios in which an individual employs a device in order to
enhance their emotional experience, or to achieve new kinds of experience
altogether, such as playing an instrument, going to the movies, or sporting a
fancy handbag. I argue that this narrow focus on cases that fit a
“user/resource model” tends to channel attention away from more complex and
also more problematic instances of situated affectivity. Among these are
scenarios in which a social domain draws individuals into certain modes of
affective interaction, often by way of attunement and habituation to affective
styles and interaction patterns that are normative in the domain in question.
This can lead to a phenomenon that is not so much “mind extension” than “mind
invasion”: affectivity is dynamically framed and modulated from without, often
contrary to the prior orientations of the individuals in question. As an
example, I discuss affective patterns prevalent in today's corporate
workplace. I claim that workplace affect sometimes contributes to what is
effectively a “hack” of employees' subjectivity