(In literary criticism) the fallacy that the meaning or value of a work (especially a poem) may be judged or defined in terms of its emotional effect on the reader or hearer.
Origin
1940s.
Definition of affective fallacy in US English:
affective fallacy
noun
(In literary criticism) the fallacy that the meaning or value of a work (especially a poem) may be judged or defined in terms of its emotional effect on the reader or hearer.