Bloom’s taxonomy affective domain diagram

What it shows

The affective domain of Bloom’s taxonomy, concerned with attitudes and values rather than knowledge (Krathwohl, Bloom and Masia 1964). Its five levels run from receiving at the base to characterizing at the top.

The levels are ordered by internalization: each level marks a value more fully internalized than the one below. The bands narrow toward the top, like the familiar figure of the cognitive domain.

How to read it

1. 1

   Receiving, at the base: the learner pays attention.

2. 2

   Responding: they actively participate. Valuing: they attach worth to something.

3. 3

   Organizing: they prioritize their values and reconcile conflicts between them.

4. 4

   Characterizing, at the top: a value system controls their behavior.

The five levels

• Receiving: pays attention.
• Responding: actively participates.
• Valuing: attaches worth to something.
• Organizing: prioritizes and reconciles values.
• Characterizing: a value system controls behavior.
• The original 1964 names for the top two levels were “Organization” and “Characterization by a value or value complex” (Office of Assessment, n.d.).

Ways to use it in teaching

• Use it when writing learning outcomes for professional programs, where attitudes matter alongside knowledge.

• As a short exercise, have students write one learning outcome at each level for the same topic.

• Set it beside the cognitive domain to show the taxonomy’s other domains.

Sources

• Bloom’s taxonomy. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom%27s_taxonomy
• Clark, D. R. (1999). Bloom’s taxonomy of learning domains. Big Dog & Little Dog’s Performance Juxtaposition. http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/Bloom/affective_domain.html
• Krathwohl, D. R., Bloom, B. S., & Masia, B. B. (1964). Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals. Handbook II: Affective domain. David McKay.
• Office of Assessment. (n.d.). The affective and psychomotor domains. University of New England. https://www.une.edu/pdfs/provost-assessment-resources-affective-and-psychomotor-domains-quick-guide