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The present article compares dimensional models of affect with each other. The article focuses on the pleasure–arousal model, the energetic and tense arousal model, and a three‐dimensional model with separate pleasure–displeasure, awake–tiredness, and tension–relaxation dimensions. The results show that the three‐dimensional model cannot be reduced to a two‐dimensional model. Problems of the two‐dimensional models' reductionism are discussed. We conclude that a three‐dimensional description of affect is necessary. However, the three‐dimensional model is not sufficient to account for all aspects of the structure of affect. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.