The long-term objective of this research is to advance understanding of how positive emotions enhance health, mental health, and social relations. Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions provides the foundation. The theory states that, unlike negative emotions, which narrow people's ideas about possible actions (e.g., fight, flee), positive emotions broaden people's thought-action repertoires (e.g., play, explore), and build their enduring personal resources (e.g., health, resilience, social support, intellectual complexity). Nine studies target four Specific Aims. Studies 1-2 target Specific Aim I: To investigate and test the role of positive emotions in flourishing mental health. Study 1 uses a new survey method to assess whether flourishing mental health is associated with high ratios of positive to negative emotions. Study 2 uses a between-subjects experimental design and a new self-regulation intervention strategy to test whether increasing daily experiences of positive emotions increases symptoms of flourishing and decreases symptoms of depression. Studies 3-4 target Specific Aim I1: To test whether and how positive emotions build consequential and lasting personal resources. Study 3 uses a between-subjects experimental design and the same self-regulation intervention strategy to test whether increasing daily experiences of positive emotions builds resilience, which in turn alters people's emotional, cognitive, and physiological functioning. Study 4 tests whether cognitive broadening, assessed through linguistic markers, accounts for the building effects of positive emotions. Studies 5-6 target Specific Aim II1: To test whether and how positive emotions broaden interpersonal curiosity and build high quality connections between people. Each uses a between-subjects experimental design to induce emotions (joy, anger, or a neutral state) and test whether positive emotion increases people's curiosity about a new acquaintance, and thereby expands interpersonal understanding and empathy, and improves the ways individuals relate to one another. Studies 7-9 target Specific Aim IV: To test whether and how positive emotions build efficient social coordination and effective teamwork. Each uses a between-subjects experimental design to induce emotions (joy, anger, or a neutral state) and test whether positive emotion increases perceptions of group identity and thereby helps teams coordinate and economize their use of resources.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH059615-08
Application #
7177487
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SPIP (01))
Program Officer
Kozak, Michael J
Project Start
2000-02-01
Project End
2009-01-31
Budget Start
2007-02-01
Budget End
2008-01-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$309,838
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Fredrickson, Barbara L; Kok, Bethany E (2018) Evidence for the Upward Spiral Stands Steady: A Response to Nickerson (2018). Psychol Sci 29:467-470
Kiken, Laura G; Lundberg, Kristjen B; Fredrickson, Barbara L (2017) Being present and enjoying it: Dispositional mindfulness and savoring the moment are distinct, interactive predictors of positive emotions and psychological health. Mindfulness (N Y) 8:1280-1290
Algoe, Sara B; Kurtz, Laura E; Hilaire, Nicole M (2016) Putting the ""You"" in ""Thank You"": Examining Other-Praising Behavior as the Active Relational Ingredient in Expressed Gratitude. Soc Psychol Personal Sci 7:658-666
Algoe, Sara B; Zhaoyang, Ruixue (2016) Positive Psychology in Context: Effects of Expressing Gratitude in Ongoing Relationships Depend on Perceptions of Enactor Responsiveness. J Posit Psychol 11:399-415
Hogan, Candice L; Catalino, Lahnna I; Mata, Jutta et al. (2015) Beyond emotional benefits: physical activity and sedentary behaviour affect psychosocial resources through emotions. Psychol Health 30:354-69
Kurtz, Laura E; Algoe, Sara B (2015) Putting Laughter in Context: Shared Laughter as Behavioral Indicator of Relationship Well-Being. Pers Relatsh 22:573-590
Brown-Iannuzzi, Jazmin L; Adair, Kathryn C; Payne, B Keith et al. (2014) Discrimination hurts, but mindfulness may help: Trait mindfulness moderates the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms. Pers Individ Dif 56:
Catalino, Lahnna I; Algoe, Sara B; Fredrickson, Barbara L (2014) Prioritizing positivity: an effective approach to pursuing happiness? Emotion 14:1155-61
Algoe, Sara B; Way, Baldwin M (2014) Evidence for a role of the oxytocin system, indexed by genetic variation in CD38, in the social bonding effects of expressed gratitude. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 9:1855-61
Kok, Bethany E; Coffey, Kimberly A; Cohn, Michael A et al. (2013) How positive emotions build physical health: perceived positive social connections account for the upward spiral between positive emotions and vagal tone. Psychol Sci 24:1123-32

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