SUBMITTED AS ASSIGNMENT OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

BY
SAKSHI GANDHI

TO
ASST. PROF. KAJREE MAM

Department of Psychology- Vishwakarma University

Q. What Are Positive Emotions? Explain Broaden and build theory of positive
emotions.
Positive Emotions- Positive emotions are emotions that we typically find pleasurable to
experience. The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology defines them as “pleasant or
desirable situational responses… distinct from pleasurable sensation and
undifferentiated positive affect” (Cohn & Fredrickson, 2009).

Basically, this definition is stating that positive emotions are pleasant responses to our
environment (or our own internal dialogue) that are more complex and targeted than simple
sensations. They don’t necessarily need a reason or cause behind them for us to enjoy them;
we just do. Experiencing positive emotion is vital for anyone who wants to lead a happy and
healthy life.

 These emotions include:

 joy
 amusement
 hope
 pride
 interest
 compassion
 gratitude.
 Confidence
 Awe, kindness, etc

Q. WHAT IS THE BRODEN AND BUILD THEORY OF POSITIVE EMOTIONS?

The broaden-and-build theory is an exploration of the evolved function of positive emotions.
It was developed by Barbara Fredrickson starting around 1998 and is commonly associated
with Positive Psychology.
The theory provides a convincing explanation of the “point” of positive emotions: to open our
minds, broaden and expand our awareness, and facilitate the building and development of
resources, including knowledge, skills, abilities, and relationships.

In the words of Fredrickson herself:

“…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 effects of these emotions are in sharp contrast to the effects of negative emotions, or
those experienced in a dangerous situation (e.g., fear, terror, anxiety), which usually have the
effect of narrowing our focus and limiting our myriad options to the one or two best suited
for survival. In such situations, these automatic responses are vital for ensuring that we make
it out alive; however, in situations that are not life-threatening, we don’t need such a narrow
perspective or limiting of options.
This is where positive emotions are more advantageous—instead of limiting our scope, they
expand it to allow for creative thought and action. Instead of narrowing our focus to one or
two responses, they expand our awareness to take in the much wider array of responses we
can choose from.

These resources acquired and developed through experiencing positive emotions have been
shown to result in many benefits throughout the several domains of life.

Conclusion-

The theory suggests that positive emotions, although fleeting, also have more long-lasting
consequences. From the perspective of the broaden-and-build theory, positive emotions are
vehicles for individual growth and social connection: By building people's personal and
social resources, positive emotions transform people for the better, giving them better lives in
the future.