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Related Experiment Video

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Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effect of Induced Emotion on Grammar Learning

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Published on: January 29, 2020

What Good Are Positive Emotions?

Barbara L Fredrickson¹

¹University of Michigan.

Review of General Psychology : Journal of Division 1, of the American Psychological Association

|September 28, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Positive emotions like joy and love broaden thinking and build personal resources. This new broaden-and-build model explains their function in enhancing well-being and resilience.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Emotion Research
Well-being Studies

Background:

Existing emotion models inadequately explain positive emotions.
Positive emotions such as joy, interest, contentment, and love require a distinct theoretical framework.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce and elaborate on the broaden-and-build model.
To explain the function of specific positive emotions.
To review empirical support for the proposed model.

Main Methods:

Theoretical model development.
Review of empirical evidence supporting the broaden-and-build theory.
Discussion of implications for emotion regulation and health.

Main Results:

Positive emotions broaden an individual's repertoire of thoughts and actions.
This broadening effect leads to the accumulation of physical, intellectual, and social resources.
Empirical evidence supports the proposed broaden-and-build model.

Conclusions:

The broaden-and-build model provides a framework for understanding positive emotions.
Positive emotions play a crucial role in personal resource development.
Findings have implications for interventions in health promotion and emotion regulation.