THE BROADEN & BUILD THEORY The Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions, developed by psychology professor Barbara Fredrickson at UNC Chapel Hill, describes the shortterm mechanism and long-term impact of positive emotions. Whereas extensive research has found that negative emotions tend to engender strong and immediate reactions to encourage specific behaviors that historically have aided our predecessors in lifethreatening circumstances, previous studies have paid little attention to the effects of positive emotions and the role they play in overall wellness. Fredrickson
The broaden hypothesis in Fredrickson's theory posits
theorizes that rather than restricting thought and
that positive emotions temporarily widen the range of
action tendencies (urges to behave in a specific way), as
perspectives and behaviors that spring to mind, leading
negative emotions do, positive emotions will
to enhanced flexibility and creativity. According to
momentarily broaden one's "thought-action
Fredrickson, these moments of broadened thought-
repertoires," which lead to the building of "enduring
action repertoires created by positive emotions are
personal resources" (Fredrickson, 2001). In other
evolutionarily advantageous in that they contribute to
words, positive emotions produce an "upward spiral" of
an individual's survival and success in future ordeals by
thoughts and actions that can eventually serve as
building upon their physical, social, psychological, or
invaluable resources to draw from long after the initial
intellectual resources (Fredrickson, 2001). For instance,
positive emotion has faded.
joy shared between two or more people promotes trust and play, which in turn not only strengthens the relationship between the individuals involved but also builds social capital and expands in-group boundaries. Likewise, joy also encourages young children to engage
of their social, physical, and cognitive skills. The durable benefits of positive emotions extend beyond the fleeting experience of the emotions themselves, and as we will continue to see in this newsletter, a vast amount of positive psychology research is grounded in the robustness of the Broaden-and-Build Theory.
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in a various kinds of play, resulting in the development