Positive emotions broaden the scope of attention and thought‐action repertoires

TLDR

The broaden‑and‑build theory proposes that positive emotions expand attention and broaden thought‑action repertoires. The authors tested these predictions in two experiments with 104 college students. Participants viewed films designed to elicit amusement, contentment, neutrality, anger, or anxiety, and their attention was measured with a global‑local visual task while their thought‑action repertoires were assessed using a Twenty Statements Test. Positive emotions widened attention and thought‑action repertoires, whereas negative emotions narrowed the latter, suggesting implications for emotional well‑being and physical health.

Abstract

The broaden-and-build theory (Fredrickson, 1998, 2001) hypothesises that positive emotions broaden the scope of attention and thought-action repertoires. Two experiments with 104 college students tested these hypotheses. In each, participants viewed a film that elicited (a) amusement, (b) contentment, (c) neutrality, (d) anger, or (e) anxiety. Scope of attention was assessed using a global-local visual processing task (Experiment 1) and thought-action repertoires were assessed using a Twenty Statements Test (Experiment 2). Compared to a neutral state, positive emotions broadened the scope of attention in Experiment 1 and thought-action repertoires in Experiment 2. In Experiment 2, negative emotions, relative to a neutral state, narrowed thought-action repertoires. Implications for promoting emotional well-being and physical health are discussed.