The Broaden and Build Theory
As previously mentioned, positive emotions illicit a broadening or “opening up” of our perspective and thought action repertoire.
Examples of this are given by Frederickson (2004): such as joy creating the urge to play and be creative
or love (“viewed as an amalgam of distinct positive emotions eg. joy, interest and contentment") creating recurring cycles of urges to play with, explore, and savor our loves ones.
These responses, in turn build both social, intellectual, and even physical resources--for example, increased creativity, resiliency, and brain development.
Moreover, these resources last even after the emotional states have subsided (Fredrickson, 2001).
Defining the Broaden and Build Theory
- Positive emotions differ from sensory pleasure:
- emotions require cognitive appraisals or prescribing meaning, while sensory pleasure does not.
- Positive emotions differ from positive moods:
- emotions are specific to a circumstance and are short in duration, while moods are more general and long-lasting.
- Positive emotions undo the effects of negative emotions:
- Research has shown that positive emotions help decrease the physical effects of negative emotions. For example, positive emotions allow a quicker recovery from increased cardiovascular activity, such as high blood pressure.
- This leads to greater resiliency!
- Research has shown that positive emotions help decrease the physical effects of negative emotions. For example, positive emotions allow a quicker recovery from increased cardiovascular activity, such as high blood pressure.
- Positive emotions trigger upward cycles and upward cycles lead to greater well-being!
-
- Upward cycles are defined as "self perpetuating cycles that lead to optimal functioning and enhanced social openness" (Garland et al., 2010)
- As stated by Fredrickson (2001), “positive emotions and the broadening thinking they engender influence one another reciprocally, leading to appreciable increases in emotional well-being over time...in part by building resilience and influencing the ways people cope with adversity."