Positive Emotions Broaden and Build

 

Book data:

• The title of the book: Positive Emotions Broaden and Build
• Author: Barbara L. Fredrickson
• Year of Publication: 2010
• number of pages: 86
• Book language: English
• book format: pdf

About the book:

Throughout history, psychologists have typically focused on negative human states.

This focus ultimately influenced the way psychologists studied the experience of emotions; for years, investigations typically targeted negative emotions like anxiety, anger, and depression.

Consequently, one critical question remained unanswered: What good are positive emotions?

This question was the title of a groundbreaking article by Barbara Fredrickson, published in the Review of General Psychology in 1998. In the article, Fredrickson forwards a novel theory of positive emotions, arguing that they serve to broaden individuals’ momentary thought-action repertoires, thereby contributing to good health and functioning.

This theory is now known as the Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions.

In this article, we’ll explore some key differences between positive and negative emotions, outline the core principles of Fredrickson’s Broaden-and-Build Theory, and point you toward additional resources to learn more about your emotions.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Emotional Intelligence Exercises for free. These science-based exercises will not only enhance your ability to understand and work with your emotions but will also give you the tools to foster the emotional intelligence of your clients, students, or employees.