scholarly journals The broaden–and–build theory of positive emotions

2004 ◽  
Vol 359 (1449) ◽  
pp. 1367-1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara L. Fredrickson
Keyword(s):  
Close Relationships ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Broaden And Build Theory ◽  
And Function ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Action Tendencies

The broaden–and–build theory describes the form and function of a subset of positive emotions, including joy, interest, contentment and love. A key proposition is that these positive emotions broaden an individual's momentary thought–action repertoire: joy sparks the urge to play, interest sparks the urge to explore, contentment sparks the urge to savour and integrate, and love sparks a recurring cycle of each of these urges within safe, close relationships. The broadened mindsets arising from these positive emotions are contrasted to the narrowed mindsets sparked by many negative emotions (i.e. specific action tendencies, such as attack or flee). A second key proposition concerns the consequences of these broadened mindsets: by broadening an individual's momentary thought–action repertoire—whether through play, exploration or similar activities—positive emotions promote discovery of novel and creative actions, ideas and social bonds, which in turn build that individual's personal resources; ranging from physical and intellectual resources, to social and psychological resources. Importantly, these resources function as reserves that can be drawn on later to improve the odds of successful coping and survival. This chapter reviews the latest empirical evidence supporting the broaden–and–build theory and draws out implications the theory holds for optimizing health and well–being.

scholarly journals Reflections on Positive Emotions and Upward Spirals

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara L. Fredrickson ◽  
Thomas Joiner
Keyword(s):  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Report ◽  
Reciprocal Relations ◽  
Psychological Science ◽  
Spiral Dynamics ◽  
Broaden And Build Theory ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

We reflect on our 2002 article and the impact this research report has had both within and beyond psychological science. This article was both one of the first publications to provide empirical support for hypotheses based on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and a product of the genesis of positive psychology. We highlight empirical and theoretical advancements in the scientific understanding of upward spiral dynamics associated with positive emotions, with particular focus on the new upward spiral theory of lifestyle change. We conclude by encouraging deeper and more rigorous tests of the prospective and reciprocal relations associated with positive emotions. Such progress is needed to better inform translations and applications to improve people’s health and well-being.

Impact of Gratitude on Resource Development and Emotional Well-Being

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Che Lin
Keyword(s):  
Coping Style ◽  
Positive Emotion ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Avoidant Coping ◽  
Adaptive Coping ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Broaden And Build Theory

Using the broaden-and-build theory, I examined whether or not gratitude can build social, cognitive, physical, and psychological resources, and whether or not gratitude induces other positive emotions that trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-being. I recruited participants (N = 375 undergraduates) to complete measures of the variables of interest. The results indicated that higher levels of gratitude significantly predicted increases in social support, adaptive coping abilities, and beneficial psychological outcomes (e.g., life satisfaction), as well as decreases in avoidant coping style and detrimental physical outcomes (e.g., negative emotions). Further, I found that gratitude could induce other positive emotions which partially mediated the effects of gratitude on emotional well-being. These findings provide empirical support for the idea that gratitude is, in essence, a positive emotion beneficial for positive functioning, as well as broadening and building other positive emotions, which, in turn, result in an increase in emotional well-being.

scholarly journals The Complexity and Phylogenetic Continuity of Laughter and Smiles in Hominids

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Davila-Ross ◽  
Guillaume Dezecache
Keyword(s):  
Positive Affect ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Continuity Hypothesis ◽  
Deep Roots ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
And Function ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Human Laughter ◽  
Selection Of

Laughter and smiles are often, but not always, associated with positive affect. These expressions of humans help to promote social relationships as well as the development of cognitive and socio-emotional skills and they may have a positive impact on health and well-being, hereby covering a selection of fitness-relevant benefits. Both laughter and smiles of positive affect also occur early in human development and across cultures, suggesting deep roots in human biology. The present work provides an evolutionary reconstruction of the evolution of human laughter and smiles of positive affect in form and function, based on the principle of maximum parsimony. According to the Complexity and Continuity Hypothesis, human laughter and smiles of positive affect must have evolved within the context of play from ancestral species. Furthermore, ancestral ape laughter and their open-mouth faces must already have been complex in form and function and changed over time via categorically different phylogenetic pathways to become characteristic, effective, and pervasive behaviors of everyday social interactions in humans.

scholarly journals Residential Meditation Retreats: Their Role in Contemplative Practice and Significance for Psychological Research

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon King ◽  
Quinn Conklin ◽  
Anthony Paul Zanesco ◽  
Clifford Saron
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Meditation Practice ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Meditation Experience ◽  
And Function ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Over Time

Contemporary investigations of mindfulness and meditation have predominately emphasized the short-term effects of brief inductions or standardized, multi-week interventions in people with little to no prior meditation experience. Considerably less is known about the effects of continued or intensive meditation practice as proficiency and expertise are acquired over time. In this article, we describe the form and function of residential retreats, an understudied class of meditation intervention that holds promise for bridging this gap in the empirical literature. We outline a number of design features that distinguish retreats from other meditation-based interventions, and highlight their utility for informing functional and developmental perspectives on meditation, cognition, health, and well-being.

scholarly journals Social bonds affect anti-predator behaviour in a tolerant species of macaque, Macaca nigra

2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1744) ◽  
pp. 4042-4050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérôme Micheletta ◽  
Bridget M. Waller ◽  
Maria R. Panggur ◽  
Christof Neumann ◽  
Julie Duboscq ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Bonds ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Evolutionary Origins ◽  
Dominance Relationships ◽  
Macaca Nigra ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Function ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Mobbing Behaviour

Enduring positive social bonds between individuals are crucial for humans' health and well being. Similar bonds can be found in a wide range of taxa, revealing the evolutionary origins of humans' social bonds. Evidence suggests that these strong social bonds can function to buffer the negative effects of living in groups, but it is not known whether they also function to minimize predation risk. Here, we show that crested macaques ( Macaca nigra ) react more strongly to playbacks of recruitment alarm calls (i.e. calls signalling the presence of a predator and eliciting cooperative mobbing behaviour) if they were produced by an individual with whom they share a strong social bond. Dominance relationships between caller and listener had no effect on the reaction of the listener. Thus, strong social bonds may improve the coordination and efficiency of cooperative defence against predators, and therefore increase chances of survival. This result broadens our understanding of the evolution and function of social bonds by highlighting their importance in the anti-predator context.

Positive Emotions

2009 ◽  
pp. 12-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Cohn ◽  
Barbara L. Fredrickson
Keyword(s):  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Outcomes ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Future Success ◽  
Broaden And Build Theory ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
Very High ◽  
Future Growth

Positive emotions include pleasant or desirable situational responses, ranging from interest and contentment to love and joy, but are distinct from pleasurable sensation and undifferentiated positive affect. These emotions are markers of people's overall well-being or happiness, but they also enhance future growth and success. This has been demonstrated in work, school, relationships, mental and physical health, and longevity. The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions suggests that all positive emotions lead to broadened repertoires of thoughts and actions and that broadening helps build resources that contribute to future success. Unlike negative emotions, which are adapted to provide a rapid response to a focal threat, positive emotions occur in safe or controllable situations and lead more diffusely to seeking new resources or consolidating gains. These resources outlast the temporary emotional state and contribute to later success and survival. This chapter discusses the nature of positive emotions both as evolutionary adaptations to build resources and as appraisals of a situation as desirable or rich in resources. We discuss the methodological challenges of evoking positive emotions for study both in the lab and in the field and issues in observing both short-term (“broaden”) and long-term (“build”) effects. We then review the evidence that positive emotions broaden perception, attention, motivation, reasoning, and social cognition and ways in which these may be linked to positive emotions' effects on important life outcomes. We also discuss and contextualize evidence that positive emotions may be detrimental at very high levels or in certain situations. We close by discussing ways in which positive emotions theory can be harnessed by both basic and applied positive psychology research.

Pateicības izpausmes folklorā psiholoģiskā kontekstā

2021 ◽  
pp. 42-53
Author(s):  
Ieva Ančevska
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
Health And Well Being

The article examines the depiction of gratitude and related events in Latvian folklore through comparative evaluation. Gratitude is considered in a psychological context, comparing the attitude expressed in folklore with the findings of modern scientific research. Gratitude is a concept that is usually associated with a relationship or a benefit, it is most often aimed outwards, dedicated to someone else, but at the same time, it creates a pleasant feeling within the person. In modern psychology, gratitude is receiving more and more attention from researchers because its manifestations stimulate the formation of positive emotions and contribute to the improvement of the person’s overall well-being. Research and clinical studies in psychotherapy confirm that gratitude plays an important role in improving mental health and reducing depressive, destructive feelings. In turn, neuroscience research shows the potential of a grateful and positive attitude in strengthening psycho-emotional health and well-being in general. In Latvian folklore, gratitude is depicted as an important part of ritual events, which helps to ensure a positive, balanced connection with the forces of nature, gods, and society. In folklore, the importance of gratitude is emphasised more when building family relationships or accepting various situations and occurrences in life. In both psychological research and the practice of systemic therapy, as well as in folklore, gratitude appears as one of the most important values of interpersonal connection, which promotes the formation of harmonious relationships. Similar to the opinions of psychology, the folk world views emphasise the motivational role of gratitude in improving the quality of human life and health in general.

Examining the Structure of the Schedule of Sexist Events: Replication and Extension

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia V. Matteson ◽  
Bonnie Moradi
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Factor Structure ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Factor Analyses ◽  
Unfair Treatment ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
The Future ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Health And Well Being

The current study reexamined the factor structure of the Lifetime and Recent scales of the Schedule of Sexist Events (SSE; Klonoff & Landrine, 1995 ) and conducted the first factor analysis of the SSE-Appraisal scale ( Landrine & Klonoff, 1997 ). Factor analyses conducted with data from 245 women yielded, for SSE-Lifetime and SSE-Appraisal scales, two reliable factors that can be scored as “Intimate and Personal Experiences of Sexist Events” and “Unfair Treatment Across Public Contexts” subscales. Data from the SSE-Recent scale yielded three factors that can be scored as “Sexist Degradation and Its Consequences,” “Unfair and Sexist Events at Work/School,” and “Unfair Treatment in Distant and Close Relationships” subscales. Recommendations are made for the future use of these proposed subscales in conjunction with total scale scores in research using the SSE to examine links between reported experiences of sexist events and women's health and well-being.

Positive Processes in Close Relationships

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelly L. Gable ◽  
Natalya C. Maisel
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Positive Events ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Health And Well Being

Although psychologists have learned a great deal about negative and harmful processes in relationships, they have focused less on understanding the positive and beneficial processes in relationships. Of course, almost every close relationship offers the promise of both meaningful rewards and substantial risks, such as support, intimacy, companionship, conflict, rejection, and criticism. In this chapter, we attempt to highlight the complexities involved in relationships and emphasize the positive processes, with the goal of creating a picture that represents the dynamic reality of the social world. We first discuss the important role that intimate relationships play in human life and their strong links with health and well-being. We then highlight research on the positive processes in relationships, such as positive emotions, intimacy, growth of the self-concept, and the benefits of sharing positive events. This work complements previous literature, which has tended to focus on the potential pitfalls in relationships. Inherent in our position is that a lack of negatives in a relationship is not equivalent to a positive relationship; just as an absence of psychopathology is not equivalent to flourishing. We end with outlining future directions in the positive psychology of relationships, such as a greater focus on biology and health and the need for examining moderating conditions.

Robot Emotive Display Systems and the Analogous Physical Features of Emotion

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1344-1348
Author(s):  
Jonathan E. Velez ◽  
Florian Jentsch
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Recognition Accuracy ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Standard Design ◽  
And Function ◽  
Physical Features ◽  
Design Protocol ◽  
Display Systems ◽  
Action Tendencies

Robots are currently utilized by various civilian and military agencies, and are becoming more common in human environments. These machines can vary in form and function, but require an interface supporting naturalistic social interactions. Emotion is a key component of social interaction that conveys states and action tendencies, and standard design protocol is necessary to guide the research and development of emotive display systems so that reliable implementations are supported. This work suggests a framework for conveying emotion based on the analogous physical features of emotive cues and their associations with the dimensions of emotion. Sound, kinesics, and color can be manipulated according to their speed, intensity, regularity, and extent to convey the emotive states of a robot. Combinations of cues can enhance human recognition accuracy of robot emotion, but further research is necessary to understand the extent of these interactions and establish each parameter space.

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