The Broaden-and-Build Theory

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 theorizes that rather than restricting thought and action tendencies (urges to behave in a specific way), as negative emotions do, positive emotions will momentarily broaden one's "thought-action repertoires, " which lead to the building of "enduring personal resources" (Fredrickson, 2001). In other words, positive emotions produce an "upward spiral" of thoughts and actions that can eventually serve as invaluable resources to draw from long after the initial positive emotion has faded. The broaden hypothesis in Fredrickson's theory posits that positive emotions temporarily widen the range of perspectives and behaviors that spring to mind, leading to enhanced flexibility and creativity. According to Fredrickson, these moments of broadened thoughtaction repertoires created by positive emotions are evolutionarily advantageous in that they contribute to an individual's survival and success in future ordeals by building upon their physical, social, psychological, or intellectual resources (Fredrickson, 2001). For instance, 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 in a various kinds of play, resulting in the development 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.