Barbara Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory assumes that positive and negative emotions differ in their action orientation. Negative emotions cause narrowed behavior, positive emotions cause broadened behavior. This theory offers a view on emotions that is often used in positive psychology.
The broaden-and-build theory according to Barbara Fredrickson
According to Fredrickson’s (2009) broadenandbuild theory, positive emotions serve a special purpose in evolution: they encourage people to think in an open, tolerant and constructive way. Positive emotions therefore provide an opportunity for growth and broaden our thoughts and behavioral repertoire. This effect makes us mentally outward-oriented, flexible and creative when we experience positive emotions. This helps us build our intellectual, social and physical capabilities and thus increases our chances of survival in the longer term.
Negative emotions on the other hand – such as fear and anger – according to Frederickson (2009), alert us to danger and make us ready for battle by stimulating an immediate and narrowed survival behavior (fight-or- flight response).
Positive and negative emotions are therefore different in their action orientation. Negative emotions cause narrowed behavior, and positive emotions cause broadened behavior.
Figure 1: metaphor funnel, negative emotions; Figure 2: metaphor funnel, positive emotions
A closer look at the broadening effect
Barbara Fredrickson (2009) states that when we experience a positive emotion, our minds tend to open up (broaden) and we are able to think more creatively. This is important because when we expand our thinking we can better view our situations from a distance, which can allow us to find alternative solutions.
This widening effect can be compared to a funnel. Negative emotions cause you to fall further and further down the funnel, creating a downward spiral. While positive emotions ensure that you get out of the funnel more and more: an upward spiral arises. For clarification, a self-designed illustration (figure 1).
A closer look at the construction effect
Positive emotions not only open our minds to alternative strategies, research has also shown that the experience of positive emotions allows us to build personal resources that can help us when needed. There are four types of resources that are built according to Frederickson (2009):
Psychic resources
Positive emotions build psychic abilities. By experiencing positivity, people become more optimistic, resilient, open, accepting and driven by purpose, according to Frederickson. Frederickson notes that having good qualities can also produce positive feelings, so she speaks of reciprocity.
Intellectual resources
Positive emotions build good mental habits. According to Frederickson, the broadening effect of positive emotions allows people to build a lasting mental habit of openness. In other words: by experiencing positive emotions, people become more aware of their environment, and therefore also more attentive to their environment. This openness to the environment makes people more open to learning, seeing multiple solutions to their problems and weighing different ways to achieve goals.
Social resources
Positive emotions build social bonds. By experiencing positivity, the positivity of those close to you is also stimulated. Positivity is contagious and attractive, which strengthens social bonds. For example, research shows that showing gratitude nourishes our relationships and helps them become stronger and closer. Even in long-term intimate relationships, it appears that shared moments of hilarity and joviality between partners deepen their relationship and give both more satisfaction.
Physical resources
Positive emotions build physical health. Scientists are starting to see a deeper connection between positivity and health. Health leads to joy, but conversely, positivity can also lead to health. For example, positivity in people predicts lower levels of stress-related hormones and higher levels of growth and interaction-related hormones.