Definition Barbara Fredrickson is an American professor of psychology and a prominent researcher in the field of positive psychology. She is best known for her "Broaden-and-Build theory of positive emotions."
Overview Fredrickson holds the Kenan Distinguished Professorship of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research primarily focuses on positive emotions, their effects on human flourishing, and the underlying physiological and psychological mechanisms. Through her work, she has significantly contributed to understanding how positive emotions not only signal well-being but also actively create it, fostering resilience, social connection, and overall health. She directs the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab (PEP Lab) at UNC.
Characteristics (Key Contributions)
- Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions: This seminal theory posits that unlike negative emotions (which narrow thought-action repertoires to promote specific actions, e.g., fear leads to flight), positive emotions (such as joy, interest, contentment, and love) broaden an individual's momentary thought-action repertoires. This broadening, in turn, helps build enduring personal resources over time, including physical, intellectual, social, and psychological resources. These resources then serve as reserves that can be drawn upon later.
- Positivity Resonance: A concept describing moments of shared positive emotion between people, characterized by mutual care, synchronized biochemical and behavioral responses, and a sense of oneness. Fredrickson argues these micro-moments of connection are vital for well-being and form the basis of love and strong social bonds.
- Affective Science and Well-being: Her work integrates psychological theory with physiological measurements (e.g., heart rate variability, vagal tone) to explore the embodied effects of emotions on health and resilience. She has researched topics such as the ratio of positive to negative emotions and its correlation with flourishing, as well as the distinction between hedonic (pleasure-seeking) and eudaimonic (meaning-seeking) well-being.
Related Topics
- Positive Psychology
- Emotions
- Well-being
- Resilience
- Happiness Studies
- Affective Science
- Social Connection
- Cognitive Psychology