Articles:The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions
From unthinkMedia
In this paper the author suggests that positive emotion produces optimal functioning. He beilieves that we should cultivate positive emotions in us, and in those around us. He states that this should be done solely because it makes you feel good, but because it could be positively transformative.
The author calls this the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions because "positive emotions appear to broaden peoples’ momentary thought–action repertoires and build their enduring personal resources (Fredrickson 1998, 2001)."
The Broaden-and-Build Theory provides a new perspective on positive emotion.
- personal resources that accumulate during positive emotion is deep-rooted
- broaden peoples thought action
Contents |
Positive Emotions provide
- increases attention and thinking
- decreases any lingering negative emotions
- fuel psychological resilience
- build consequential personal resources
- trigger upward spirals towards greater well-being in the future
- seed human flourishing
Emotion vs. Physical Sensation
Emotion
- require cognitive appraisals or meaning assessments to be initiated
- more often occur in the absence of external physical sensation (e.g. joy at receiving good news or interest in a new idea).
Physical Sensation
- can be caused simply by changing the immediate physical environment (e.g. eating or otherwise stimulating the body).
- depends heavily on bodily stimulation
Mood vs. Emotion (Oatley & Jenkins 1996; Rosenberg 1998)
emotions
- about some personally meaningful circumstance (i.e. they have an object)
- are typically short-lived and occupy the foreground of consciousness. By contrast,
moods
- typically free-floating or objectless
- more long lasting, and occupy the background of consciousness
Broaden
Joy
- creates the urge of play
- motivates us to push the limits and be creative
- increases social, physical, intellectual and artistic behavior.
Interest
- a phenomenologically distinct positive emotion
- creates the urge to explore
- take in new information and experiences
- expand the self
Contentment
- savour current life circumstances
- integrate these circumstances into new views of self and of the world
Love
- creates recurring cycles of urges to play with, explore and savour our loved ones
- represents ways that positive emotions broaden habitual modes of thinking or acting.
