 Consequently, atoms with a more negative electron affinity value are considered to have a higher electron affinity (they are more receptive to gaining electrons), and vice versa.However, in the reverse scenario where electron affinity is defined as the energy required to detach an electron from an anion, the energy value obtained will be of the same magnitude but have the opposite sign.This is because those atoms with a high electron affinity are less inclined to give up an electron, and so take more energy to remove the electron from the atom.