Module 3: Emotional Approaches

Unit 1: Positive Affectivity: Differentiating positive and negative

affectivity, Measures of
positive affectivity, Structure of positive affectivity, Causes &
correlates of positive affectivity,
Significance of positive affectivity
Unit 2: Broaden-and-build model of positive emotions
Unit 3: Happiness and Subjective well-being: Living a
pleasurable life
Unit 4: Complete Mental Health: Emotional, Social and
Psychological Well-being
Unit 5: Emotional Intelligence
Unit 6: Socio-emotional Selectivity
Unit 7: Emotional Storytelling
Positive and Negative Affectivity
Affectivity refers to an individual's general tendency to experience emotions and moods in a
particular way. It is broadly classified into Positive Affectivity (PA) and Negative Affectivity (NA).
These two dimensions influence personality, behavior, and psychological well-being.
 positive affectivity (PA)
Positive Affectivity refers to an individual's tendency to
Negative Affectivity (NA)
experience positive emotions such as joy, enthusiasm, and
Negative Affectivity refers to an individual's tendency to
confidence. People with high PA generally feel happy,
experience negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, fear, and
energetic, and alert.
anger. People with high NA often feel distressed and are more
Relationship with Extraversion
sensitive to negative stimuli.
Research has shown that PA is strongly correlated with
Extraversion, one of the Big Five personality traits.
Relationship with Neuroticism
Extraverted individuals are sociable, energetic, and tend to NA is strongly correlated with Neuroticism, another major
engage in activities that bring pleasure and excitement. personality trait.
Because of their outgoing nature, they often experience Neurotic individuals are prone to experiencing stress, mood
high levels of positive emotions. swings, and emotional instability.
Sub-dimensions of Positive Affectivity They are more likely to perceive situations as threatening and
Joviality – Feelings of cheerfulness, happiness, and react with fear or frustration.
liveliness. Changes Across the Lifespan
Self-Assurance – Feelings of confidence, strength, and NA peaks in late adolescence (teenage years) when
boldness. emotional instability is at its highest.
Attentiveness – Feelings of alertness, focus, and As individuals grow older, NA generally declines until middle
determination. adulthood.
This means that most people experience fewer negative
emotions as they mature.
 positive affectivity (PA)
Stability Over Time Negative Affectivity (NA)
Positive affectivity remains highly stable after the age of 30.
Once a person enters adulthood, their level of PA tends to be
consistent, meaning their tendency to experience happiness and Individual Differences in Affectivity
enthusiasm does not change significantly. While PA remains stable after 30, NA tends to fluctuate based
Influence on Life Outcomes on life experiences.
Job Satisfaction: People with high PA are more likely to enjoy their jobs Some individuals experience more emotional variability,
and find work fulfilling. whereas others remain relatively stable in their emotional
Marital Satisfaction: High PA is linked to happier, more stable responses.
relationships.
Role in Psychological Disorders
Psychological Well-being: Low PA is associated with various
psychological disorders such as depression.
High NA is linked to mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and
Role of Environment depression.
Although PA has a genetic component, environmental factors can People with high NA are also more likely to develop stress-
improve it. related illnesses.
Example: A study by Headey & Wearing (1991) found that over six years,
31% of participants showed significant improvements in PA.
This suggests that life experiences, social interactions, and personal
development can increase positive emotions.
 Evolutionary Perspective on Affectivity
Both PA and NA have evolved as adaptive mechanisms that serve different survival functions.
Positive Affectivity and Approach Behavior Negative Affectivity and Avoidance Behavior
PA is linked to reward-seeking behavior. NA is linked to the Behavioral Inhibition
It encourages individuals to engage in System (BIS), which focuses on avoiding
activities that bring pleasure, success, and harm.
social bonding. This system triggers fear, caution, and
This system helps humans build withdrawal to protect individuals from
relationships, explore environments, and threats.
pursue goals. Example: Feeling anxious before a
dangerous situation helps people avoid
potential harm.

PA drives people toward opportunities and rewards, NA helps them avoid risks and dangers.
 Structure of Positive Affectivity
Positive affectivity (PA) is not a single, uniform construct but rather a hierarchically
structured system with different levels of organization. This structure helps us understand
how various positive emotions relate to each other and how they contribute to overall
well-being.
The Hierarchical Model of Affect
Affectivity is structured at two fundamental levels:
Higher-Order Level
The general affect dimensions consist of:
Positive Affectivity (PA) – Reflects overall pleasant emotional states.
Negative Affectivity (NA) – Reflects overall unpleasant emotional states.
This level represents the broad distinction between feeling good (PA) and feeling bad (NA).
Lower-Order Level
At this level, specific affective states emerge under each broad dimension.
Each general affect category (PA or NA) can be broken down into distinct emotions.
 Negative Affect vs. Positive Affect at the Lower Level
Most theories of emotion widely accept the subdivision of negative affect, while positive affect remains
debated.
Negative Affect (NA) – Well-Defined Subcategories
Most models recognize three primary negative emotions:
Fear/Anxiety – Response to threat or uncertainty.
Sadness/Depression – Associated with loss and hopelessness.
Anger/Hostility – Triggered by frustration, injustice, or perceived threats.
These categories are widely accepted across different psychological theories.

Positive Affect (PA) – Less Agreement on Subcategories

Unlike negative affect, there is no universal consensus on how positive emotions should be categorized.
Different models propose different classifications.
Example: The Differential Emotions Scaleincludes two broad positive emotions:
Interest – Feeling excited, curious, and engaged.
Enjoyment – Feeling happy, joyful, and satisfied.
Watson & Clark (1994) identified three key subcomponents of PA, which are moderately to
strongly correlated.
They included these facets in their Expanded Form of the Positive and Negative Affect
Schedule (PANAS-X).

Joviality (8 Items)
Represents feelings of joy, excitement, and enthusiasm.
Examples: Cheerful, happy, lively, enthusiastic.
People high in joviality often experience frequent positive emotions.

Self-Assurance (6 Items)
Represents feelings of confidence, strength, and boldness.
Examples: Confident, strong, daring.
Associated with high self-esteem and resilience.

Attentiveness (4 Items)
Represents feelings of focus, determination, and alertness.
Examples: Alert, concentrating, determined.
Essential for goal-directed behavior and productivity
 Research suggests that PA is Adoption studies show lower heritability
estimates than twin studies.
highly heritable, meaning it is
This may be due to the failure to assess non-
partly influenced by genetics. additive genetic variance (i.e., the interaction of
Studies primarily use multiple genes in complex ways).
However, both twin and adoption studies show
Extraversion (a personality
that the common rearing environment (e.g.,
trait linked to PA) to measure growing up in the same household) has little to
heritability. no effect on PA.
This means that family upbringing does not
significantly shape PA, while genetic factors play
a major role.

Causes and Correlates of

Positive Affectivity
MPQ Well-Being Scale
[Link] Evidence for Twin studies estimate the Studies (Finkel & McGue,
heritability of Extraversion 1997; Tellegen et al., 1988)
Positive Affectivity
between 40% to 60%, with a found PA heritability
median value of 50% (Clark & estimates between 40% and
Watson, 1999). 50%.
This suggests that about half of Jang et al. (1998) reported
the variation in PA is due to heritability scores of 38% for
genetic factors. both the NEO-PI-R Activity
and Positive Emotions scales.
 Neurobiological Basis of Positive
Affectivity
The Role of Brain Activity in Positive and Negative Affectivity
Brain imaging studies show that happy individuals have greater
resting activity in the left prefrontal cortex than in the right
prefrontal cortex.
Conversely, individuals with negative affectivity show greater Research Findings on Brain Asymmetry and Affectivity
right prefrontal activity. Studies by Davidson, Tomarken, and colleagues demonstrated
this left-right asymmetry in emotional processing.
Left prefrontal cortex activation is linked to PA, while right
prefrontal cortex activation is linked to negative
affectivity.
However, isolating the exact effects of left vs. right prefrontal
activity is still a challenge.

How the Brain Influences Positive Affectivity

The left prefrontal cortex plays a key role in goal-directed behavior,
approach motivation, and positive emotions.
The right prefrontal cortex is associated with avoidance behaviors,
fear responses, and negative emotions.
People with naturally high PA may have a more active left
prefrontal cortex even at rest.
 Broaden-and-Build Theory
Barbara Fredrickson’s Broaden-and-Build Theory explains how positive
emotions contribute to personal growth, well-being, and resilience.
Unlike negative emotions, which narrow our focus and prepare us for
immediate survival actions, positive emotions broaden our thought-
action repertoires and help us build enduring psychological,
intellectual, and social resources.
Positive Emotions Lead to Expansion of Thought and Action
Negative emotions like fear, anger, or anxiety trigger a fight-or-flight response, narrowing our
focus to deal with immediate threats.
Positive emotions, such as joy, love, and contentment, have the opposite effect. They expand our
awareness, making us more open to new experiences, ideas, and perspectives.
Broaden: Expansion of Thought-Action Repertoires
Positive emotions enhance creativity, problem-solving, and learning by allowing individuals to
see broader possibilities.
Build: Development of Personal Resources
Over time, the broadening effect of positive emotions helps build personal resources, including:
Psychological resources (resilience, optimism)
Cognitive resources (problem-solving skills, intelligence)
Social resources (stronger relationships, social support)
Transform: Long-term Personal Growth
As individuals build new resources through positive emotions, they undergo personal
transformation and well-being.
This creates an upward spiral, where positive emotions fuel further growth and success.