Positive Psychology - Essay Example

?Positive Psychology Introduction Positive psychology is considered to be a branch of psychology where favorable human functions are present and which seeks to secure a scientific conceptualization in ensuring that individuals, families, and communities would thrive. Psychologists in this field seek the development of genius and talent and ensuring that normal life is very much fulfilling. It is therefore mostly focused on applying psychological theory and interventions to understand the creative and positive elements of human behavior. This paper shall now seek to understand and explain positive emotions as they as they relate to positive psychology. Body The goal of positive psychology is to establish an understanding of the elements which ensure that individuals and communities would flourish. In general, positive emotions seem to provide markers indicating optimal well-being (Fredrickson, 2001). Incidents evoking joy, love, and contentment are usually moments when negative feelings are absent. In effect, the general balance of positive and negative feelings has been declared to be influenced by people’s subjective conditions. Based on such balance, analysts like Kahneman (1999) expressed that objective happiness can appropriately be evaluated by assessing people’s experiences, as well as their good and bad feelings. Based on such viewpoints, positive emotions indicate a flourishing state. Moreover, positive emotions also help a person flourish. They flourish within current pleasant moment, but even beyond such moments as well. The general conclusion which can be drawn therefore is that positive emotions are worth developing, not only as end goals, but also as a tool in ensuring psychological growth and a well-developed personality and state of mind over time. Definitions relating to emotions are very much different. However a general consensus has been observed on emotions being a smaller categorization of the bigger class of affective psychology. Based on such perspective, emotions can be understood best as a multi-organizational response that manifest over short periods of time. In general, emotions manifest when there is a specific evaluation of the personal meaning of some previous incident. Such assessment may sometimes be conscious or unconscious. This leads to various responses which are seen alongside component elements, including subjective experience, cognitive processes, and biological changes. Positive affect helps ensure approach behavior as well as sustained action. Accordingly, positive affect ensures that individuals interact with their environment and participate in various activities, some of which may require adjustments from the individual. The relationship between positive affect and activity engagement helps explain the positivity offset, where people often tend to experience mild positive affect, even under neutral conditions. Where there is no offset, individuals would likely not engage with their surroundings and with other people. However, even with the offset, individuals often manifest an adaptive disparity to new objects and situations. Since positive emotions include an element of positive affect, they also manifest as internal cues to approach. Regardless, positive emotions manifest such functions along with various positive states. For instance, sensory pleasure prompts individuals to persistently approach any stimulus which is relevant to them at that time (Anderson, et.al., 2003). Positive moods also allow people to carry out their activities towards any direction or action they may have initiated. In effect, specific accounts on positive emotions which indicate tendencies to approach may only cover the least common element over all affective states which have a pleasant and subjective understanding, often allowing other functions within specific positive emotions to stay uncharted. Theorists discussing discrete emotions correlate specific emotions to the principle of specific action tendencies (Oatley and Jenkins, 1996). As such, fear is sometimes related to escape, anger and the need to attack, as well as disgust and the need to expel. Individuals usually express these urges when they feel specific emotions; and mostly their concept on possible actions focus on various behavioral choices. A main concept from such perspective is that a definite action tendency can help emotions evolve and adapt with time. These tendencies worked well in assisting humans in managing and surviving dangerous situations. Specific action tendencies and biological changes also unfold simultaneously. In effect, when individuals feel the urge to escape fearsome situations, their bodies often trigger autonomic responses, often allowing them to physically react to their fears. Even as specific action tendencies have been cited to indicate applications of positive emotions, the action tendencies for positive emotions have been considered vague (Bonanno, et.al., 2007). Such tendencies are considered too general to be evaluated as specific. They appear to be general urges relating to specific actions like fleeing or attacking. What is problematic is if the action tendencies caused by positive emotions are unclear, their impact on survival may be inconsequential. So, as the perspective focusing on generic approach tendencies, the view on specific action tendencies presents an unclear assessment of functions relating to positive emotions. There are various theories which seek to explain positive emotions as they relate to positive psychology. One of these theories is the Broaden and Build theory by Fredrickson. This theory basically indicates that some discrete positive emotions like joy, pride, and interest, though they may be distinct, all have the ability to expand individual thought action repertoires, from biological and intellectual tools to social and psychological resources. Although positive emotions can manifest in unfavorable circumstances, the overall conditions for positive emotions is not really a life-threatening condition. In effect, psychological concepts which limit individuals and their actions to support quick actions may not necessarily be needed. Instead, feelings of joy, pride, and love seem to have complementary effects as they expand the thought-action choices of people; they also expand the possible actions which come to mind. Conceptual assessment of positive emotions recognizes such claims. Feelings like joy increase as they further improve the urge to play and to be creative. These instincts are seen not just in one’s social and physical activities, but also in their intellectual behavior. In other cases, feelings of commitment often triggers the desire to enjoy one’s current life conditions and use such feelings to develop better perceptions of one’s self and the world in general. Love encompasses other positive emotions and is often felt within safe relationships. Love expands one’s outlook as it secures sustained urges of play and of enjoying experiences with loved ones. Such thought-action tendencies including playing and exploring indicate different ways by which positive emotions expand one’s habitual thoughts and actions. In relation to negative emotions which have direct adaptive effects on incidents that threaten life, the broadened thought-action choices prompted by positive emotions are favorable in different ways (Fredrickson, 2001). Specifically, such perceptions have indirect and long-term effects; broadening can support personal resources which act as reserves to be used later in protecting against future threats. Play for example is associated with joy. Based on various researches, forms of chasing play have been seen in animals, juveniles of specific species (Dolhinow, 1987). These play activities include climbing branches and catapulting into other branches. Among adult animals of same species, same instincts to run or to flee are seen when they are faced with predators. Such interactions indicate that juvenile play can eventually help develop one’s physical qualities. Play also helps support social resources, including social play, excitement, shared amusement, and eventually social attachments. Childhood play therefore helps develop intellectual tools as it also improves creativity; and it also helps improve brain development. It is crucial to recognize that personal tools gained during instances of positive emotions are considered durable. They last beyond temporary feelings and emotional states which caused their acquisition. As a result, the incidental impact of the positive emotions implies the increase of personal resources. Such resources are considered reserves which can be used when other emotional incidents are apparent. The broaden-and-build theory therefore supports positive emotions in relation to broadened thought action options and it also supports functions in relation to sustained personal resources. This theory presents another perspective on the relevance of positive emotions. Human ancestors who gave in to the desires triggered by positive emotions would have generally gained more personal resources. As these ancestors were later confronted with threats to their life, their significant personal resources allowed them to increase their chances of survival (Fredrickson, 2001). In effect, to a certain extent, based on the ability to enjoy positive emotions, such ability would have become a necessary part of human nature. Observed support for various principles of the broaden-and-build theory can be based on numerous sub-disciplines in psychology, covering cognition and intrinsic motivation, as well as attachment resources. Evidence indicates that positive emotions expand the coverage of attention and action. They also improve physical and social resources. Based on the work of Isen (2000), positive emotions expand individuals’ temporary thought-action choices. Individuals going through positive emotions manifest thought patterns which seem to be unusual, flexible, creative, and efficient. The author also discovered that individuals going through positive emotions manifest a higher preference for variety; and they also favor a wider range of behavioral options. In effect, positive emotions manifest a broad and flexible capacity to integrate diverse materials. Such effects were later associated with increased brain dopamine levels. Negative emotions have mostly limited the attention of people; and on the other hand, positive emotions seem to expand perceptions. In fact, negative conditions including anxiety, depression and feelings of failure seem to have a stronger correlation with narrowed attention; whereas, positive emotions, including success and optimism seem to relate to wider and more diverse perceptions. Positive emotions also have a favorable effect as it helps undo lingering negative emotions. Where negative feelings limit the thought-action options and positive feelings expand such options, then positive feelings should serve as effective tools in eliminating the residual impact of negative feelings. In effect, positive emotions would help eliminate the after effects of negative emotions. The main observation of positive emotions being incompatible with negative emotions is not a novel observation; this observation has been seen in previous studies covering anxiety disorders (Wolpe, 1958). Still, the exact resource effectively accountable for the incompatibility has not been sufficiently identified. The expanding functions relating to positive emotions may have a bigger role. As there is a broadening of individual’s temporary thought-action choices, positive feelings may expand the impact of negative emotions on individuals, their mind and bodies, by affecting the preparation of specific actions. Positive feelings also seem to trigger psychological resilience. The discussion above indicates that individuals would be able to improve their psychological state and their physical health as they would improve how they would experience positive emotions during specific times in order to manage negative feelings. Similar claims on experiences affecting chronic stress help individuals manage their negative emotions (Folkman and Moskowitz, 2000). These results indicate how positive emotions and beliefs become resources for individuals to manage challenges and adversity. It would seem clear that some individuals would likely comprehend and use positive emotions to assist them in their activities. This can be seen in terms of psychological resilience. Resilient individuals often recover quickly from stressful incidents. The analogy is strong in terms of resilient metals bending, but not breaking. The theoretical understanding of resilience indicates that in relation to less resilient individuals, the resilient often manifest higher cardiovascular recovery triggered by negative feelings. Moreover, the broaden-and-build theory indicates that the power to restore cardiovascular baselines may be triggered by positive feelings experienced. Positive emotions also help improve psychological resilience and prompt upward spirals of enhanced emotional wellness. Initial signs indicate that positive emotions may help ensure individual differences in resilience. Since psychological resilience is a persistent personal tool, the broaden-and-build theory supports the prediction that positive feelings may eventually improve psychological resilience. In effect, to the point where positive feelings improve the attention and cognition, allowing for creative thinking, they must also enhance and improve people’s coping capacity. In turn, as psychological strength is improved, positive feelings can also improve the emotional well-being of individuals. In line with this perspective, studies indicate that individuals who go through positive emotions during times of bereavement would likely go establish long-term plans (Affleck and Tennen, 1996). Alongside positive emotions, plans also lead to improved psychological status following deaths or periods of mourning. People often experience positive feelings during adversity when they also seek the positive meanings of the things going on in their lives. It is important to understand that the link between positive meaning as well as positive feelings is reciprocal. This means that finding positive meaning can trigger positive feelings, especially as they expand one’s thinking and improve one’s ability to perceive positive meaning in other events. The possible reciprocal associations observed in positive emotions and positive meanings imply that eventually the impact of positive feelings may compound and evolve. The wider focus and cognition prompted by previous experiences would likely assist in managing challenges, and improved coping may support other experiences relating to positive emotion. Throughout this cycle, individuals help improve their psychological resilience as well as improve their emotional state. An assessment on depression indicates a negative direction where depression and pessimistic attitudes influence each other, eventually causing worsening moods and possible clinical depression. The broaden-and-build theory supports an upward spiral where positive emotions and the wider perspectives they trigger also influence each other, causing an increase in emotional conditions (Campbell-Sills, et.al., 2006). Positive feelings may prompt these upward spirals by improving resilience and improving how individuals manage adversity In testing the hypothesis of cognitive broadening leading to an upward spiral and enhances emotional state, Fredrickson (2001) evaluated positive and negative feelings, including broad-minded coping. Broad-minded coping was affected by matters like: thinking of various ways to manage the problem and stepping back from the situation and being more objective. Data indicated clear signs of upward spiral. Individuals who manifested positive emotions were more resilient to challenges. Moreover, their improved coping skills eventually led to more positive feelings. These results indicate that positive emotions as well as broad-minded coping both support each other. Positive feelings help people feel good about their current conditions; and also with favorable effects on broadened thinking, positive feelings increase the possibility of individuals eventually feeling optimistic about their future. As broad-minded coping is a type of psychological resilience, data may not match prediction, founded on the broaden-and-build theory that transient experiences of positive emotion can support and increase enduring psychological resources and lead to upward spirals toward better emotional states. Much evidence has been gathered supporting the fact that positive emotions are linked with favorable physical and psychological health conditions. Some of these health outcomes have been previously touched on. Specifically, a discussion on these outcomes shall be established in this paper. One positive outcome is laughter and humor. Laughter, as has been mentioned all too often, is a good medicine. It prompts and increases positive feelings. It also leads to feelings of improvement in the immune system functions. Moreover, based on self-reports on immune functions, laughter is affected by subjective experiences relating to positive emotion, mostly for older individuals. This implies that positive feelings caused by laughter are significant in predicting improved health goals for the immune system. Positive emotions affect the impact of coping with humor and immune system functions. Laughter is often related to humor. People may be different in terms of the extent to which they apply humor to manage stressful incidents. Those who are more likely to use humor to cope with problems are more likely to be in a positive mood. In effect, to respond to stress, those who are likely to cope using humor manifest improved salivary immunoglobulin A, which is a crucial immune system protein and is the body’s first line of defense against respiratory diseases (Dillon, et.al., 1985). Supporting studies in an experience-sampling research indicates that self-reported positive feelings revealed increases in IgA levels, implying improved immune functions. These results indicate that individuals who can have positive emotional states throughout stressful situations can manifest improvements in their immune functions (Masten, 2001). Another health condition affected by positive emotions is heart disease and related affectations. For instance, for elderly individuals suffering from cardiovascular diseases reporting greater feelings of happiness for 90 days following hospital release, they also experienced lower hospital admission rates (Tugade, et.al., 2004). Reports expressing positive emotions also indicate readmission which exceeded other elements including health status as well as length and initial stay in the hospital. Cardiovascular health benefits related to positive emotions are further indicated by studies on optimism, a quality supported by sustained positive feelings (Carver and Scheier, 2002). Optimists seem to manifest better rates of physical recovery after coronary artery bypass surgeries. Consequently, optimism is related to a decreased possibility of disease and improved chances for recovery, mostly due to chronic positive emotional conditions which optimists manifest. Current theories however note that various health impacts relating to dispositional optimism are akin to the effects seen in other positive emotions (Aspinwall and Leaf, 2002). Positive emotional disclosure is also impacted by positive emotions. Interventions which support positive emotions are helpful to one’s health. In one study, participants were grouped into three: count your blessings, list daily hassles and control. Participants who counted their blessings for 10 weeks manifested better health outcomes; they had less physical ails; and were likely to exercise more and sleep better (Emmons and McCullough, 2003). Emotional disclosure can also cause improved health functions, especially where positive emotional content is seen in the disclosures. For example, the application of more positive emotions in describing mild stressors led to less illness-related doctor visits in the span of two months was seen in patients manifesting positive emotional disclosures. Individuals who were also told to write their perceived benefits relating to trauma were likely to experience better health outcomes, including lesser health center visits. Applying more positive emotion words seemed to benefit individuals going through trauma and other stressful conditions. Advantages have also been noted on positive emotional disclosure leading to short-term health benefits, with benefits lasting for a lifetime. Positive emotions seen among elderly adults help contradict physical debility in old age. Along with the promotion of physical health, managing positive emotions also relates with psychological health. For example, coping skills related to the sustenance of positive emotions help afford protection against stress and depression. Such strategies assist individuals in managing crises using new coping skills, gaining closer relations, and ensuring a health appreciation of life. All of these elements translate to a better psychological condition. Empirical support for the manifestation of positive emotions ensures adaptive coping and adjustments relating to acute and chronic stress. For example, individuals who are able to find meaning while caring for sick partners seemed to cope better with the distress and emotional impact of caregiving and bereavement. Moreover, women who also saw benefits even with hazardous child delivery and prolonged hospitalization following delivery manifested improved well-being, which then led to the development of well-adjusted children. The manifestation of positive feelings alongside challenges may secure the much needed psychological respite against stress, allowing for the restoration of coping abilities. Positive emotions are related to improved psychological functioning, including improved levels of well-being and lesser possibilities of health issues. These links may seem obvious because individuals who have positive emotions would likely have better health. Moreover, positive emotions form part of the delineation of elements relating to psychological functioning. For instance, wellness is usually related to high levels of positive emotion. What seems surprising is the fact the positive emotions seem to affect psychological functions. This is seen in various experimental studies (Lyubomirsky, et.al., 2005). Fredrickson and colleagues (2008) assigned participants to meditation practice in order to improve positive emotions; other participants were considered control groups. With time, the group in the positive emotion conditions manifested improved emotions which also led to improved well-being and reduced depressed symptoms. These elements were affected by gains in terms of health and social benefits. Results indicating that positive emotions lead to improved outcomes also led to questions on how positive emotions may do so. It is also important to note that a crucial function of emotions is to manage an individual’s social relations and his relationships. Specifically, positive emotions support these functions by relating to others their intent and approachability by triggering positive emotional conditions in other individuals. In effect, positive feelings support social connections and the establishment of long-term bonds. The main suggestion here is that positive emotions would likely have adaptive social results to the extent that they are then transmitted well to others. Where positive feelings are not expressed well, they would likely lose some of their positive results. In effect, to understand how positive emotions are adaptive, there is a need to focus the issue on whether they are communicated well. It is important to indicate that accuracy is achieved and communication becomes most effective where positive emotions are reflected in one’s feelings. Conclusion The question being asked mostly relates to the role which positive emotions have in positive psychology. Past perspectives indicate that positive feelings indicate wellness and often guide current behavior. Without downplaying the relevance of these functions, the broaden-and-build theory pushes positive feelings into a more relevant spotlight. This theory indicates that positive emotions, although temporary also have a more sustained impact. Based on the broaden-and-build theory, positive feelings are tools which can assist in individual improvement and in building social connections. They improve the personal and the social resources of the individual; these positive emotions change people for the better, allowing them to eventually gain better lives. The broaden-and-build theory also indicates the various discrete and positive feelings are needed to ensure optimal functions. 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