View source for Positive affectivity

{{short description|Psychological capability to respond positively}}
{{Redirect|Good feeling}}
{{Redir-dist|Positive affect|Positivity effect}}
'''Positive affectivity''' ('''PA''') is a human characteristic that describes how much people experience positive [[Affect (psychology)|affects]] (sensations, emotions, sentiments); and as a consequence how they interact with others and with their surroundings.<ref name="auto">{{cite journal | last1 = Ashby | first1 = F. G. | last2 = Isen | first2 = A. M. | last3 = Turken | first3 = A. U. | year = 1999 | title = A neuropsychological theory of positive affect and its influence on cognition | journal = Psychological Review | volume = 106 | issue = 3| pages = 529–550 | doi = 10.1037/0033-295x.106.3.529 | pmid = 10467897 }}</ref>

People with high positive affectivity are typically enthusiastic, energetic, confident, active, and alert. Research has linked positive affectivity with an increase in longevity, better sleep, and a decrease in stress hormones.<ref name="AllostaticLoad">{{cite journal |author1=Schenk, H.M.| display-authors=etal| year = 2017 | title = Associations of Positive Affect and Negative Affect With Allostatic Load: A Lifelines Cohort Study| journal = Psychosomatic Medicine | volume = 80 | issue = 2 | pages = 160–166| doi=10.1097/PSY.0000000000000546 | pmid = 29215457| s2cid=20121114| url=https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/55027698/Associations_of_Positive_Affect_and_Negative_Affect.pdf}}</ref><ref name="Paterson">{{cite journal | last1 = Paterson | first1 = T. S. | last2 = Yeung | first2 = S. E. | last3 = Thornton | first3 = W. L. | year = 2015 | title = Positive affect predicts everyday problem-solving ability in older adults | journal = Aging & Mental Health | volume = 20 | issue = 8| pages = 871–879 | doi = 10.1080/13607863.2015.1043619 | pmid = 26033072 | s2cid = 4058593 }}</ref> People with a high positive affectivity have healthier coping styles, more positive self-qualities, and are more goal oriented.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Li | first1 = Y. I. | last2 = Starr | first2 = L. R. | last3 = Hershenberg | first3 = R. | year = 2017 | title = Responses to positive affect in daily life: positive rumination and dampening moderate the association between daily events and depressive symptoms | journal = Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment | volume = 39 | issue = 3| pages = 412–425 | doi = 10.1007/s10862-017-9593-y | s2cid = 151923179 }}</ref><ref name="Paterson" /> Positive affectivity also promotes an open-minded attitude, sociability, and helpfulness.<ref name="auto"/>

Those having low levels of positive affectivity (and high levels of ''negative'' affectivity) are characterized by sadness, lethargy, distress, and un-pleasurable engagement (see [[negative affectivity]]). Low levels of positive affect are correlated with social anxiety and depression, due to decreased levels of dopamine.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Cohen | first1 = Jonah N. | display-authors = etal | year = 2017 | title = Positive and negative affect as links between social anxiety and depression: predicting concurrent and prospective mood symptoms in unipolar and bipolar mood disorders | journal = Behavior Therapy | volume = 48 | issue = 6| pages = 820–833 | doi = 10.1016/j.beth.2017.07.003 | pmc = 6028186 | pmid = 29029678 }}</ref>

==Psychology==
[[Happiness]], a feeling of well-being, and high levels of [[self-esteem]] are often associated with high levels of positive affectivity, but they are each influenced by negative affectivity as well.<ref name="EPP"/> Trait PA roughly corresponds to the dominant [[Personality psychology|personality factors]] of [[extraversion]];<ref name="Watson 1">{{cite journal |last1= Watson|first1= David|last2= Clark|first2= Lee Anna|date= 1984|title= Negative Affectivity: The Disposition to Experience Aversive Emotional States|journal= [[Psychological Bulletin]]|volume= 96|issue= 3|pages= 465–490|doi= 10.1037/0033-2909.96.3.465|pmid=6393179}}</ref><ref name="Tellegen"/> however, this construct is also influenced by interpersonal components.<ref name="EPP"/>

===Effects===
Overall, positive affect results in a more positive outlook, increases problem solving skills, increases social skills, increases activity and projects, and can play a role in motor function.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Nelis | first1 = S. | last2 = Bastin | first2 = M. | last3 = Raes | first3 = F. | last4 = Mezulis | first4 = A. | last5 = Bijttebier | first5 = P. | year = 2016 | title = Trait affectivity and response styles to positive affect: Negative affectivity relates to dampening and positive affectivity relates to enhancing | journal = Personality and Individual Differences | volume = 96 | pages = 148–154 | doi = 10.1016/j.paid.2016.02.087 | url = https://lirias.kuleuven.be/handle/123456789/535111 | url-access = subscription }}</ref>

Positive affectivity is an integral part of [[everyday life]].<ref name="PA">{{cite journal |author1=Houben, M.| display-authors=etal| year = 2015 | title = The relation between short-term emotion dynamics and psychological well-being: A meta-analysis | journal = Psychological Bulletin | volume = 141 | issue = 4 | pages = 901–930| doi= 10.1037/a0038822| pmid=25822133| url = https://ppw.kuleuven.be/okp/_pdf/Houben2015TRBST.pdf}}</ref> PA helps individuals to process emotional information accurately and efficiently, to solve problems, to make plans, and to earn achievements. The [[broaden-and-build]] theory of PA<ref name="Fred 1">{{cite journal |last= Fredrickson|first= Barbara L.|date= September 1998|title= What Good Are Positive Emotions?|journal= [[Review of General Psychology]]|volume= 2|issue= 3|pages= 300–319|doi= 10.1037/1089-2680.2.3.300|pmid=21850154 |pmc=3156001}}</ref><ref name=Fredrickson2001>{{cite journal |last= Fredrickson|first= Barbara L.|date= March 2001|title= The Role of Positive Emotions in Positive Psychology: The Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions|journal= [[American Psychologist]]|volume= 56|issue= 3|pages= 218–226|doi= 10.1037/0003-066x.56.3.218|pmid=11315248 |pmc=3122271}}</ref> suggests that PA broadens people's momentary thought-action repertoires and builds their enduring personal resources.

Research shows that PA relates to different classes of variables, such as social activity and the frequency of pleasant events.<ref name="Watson 1"/><ref name="Beiser">{{cite journal |last= Beiser|first= Morton|date= December 1974|title= Components and Correlates of Mental Well-Being|journal= [[Journal of Health and Social Behavior]]|volume= 15|issue= 4|pages= 320–327|doi= 10.2307/2137092|jstor=2137092|pmid= 4455735}}</ref><ref name="Bradburn">Bradburn, N. M. (1969). "[http://www.norc.org/PDFs/publications/BradburnN_Struc_Psych_Well_Being.pdf The structure of psychological well-being]". Chicago: Aldine.</ref><ref name="Watson 2">{{cite journal |last1= Watson|first1= David|last2= Clark|first2= Lee Anna|last3= Tellegen|first3= Auke|date= June 1988|title= Development and Validation of Brief Measures of Positive and Negative Affect: The PANAS Scales|journal= [[Journal of Personality and Social Psychology]]|volume= 54|issue= 6|pages= 1063–1070|doi= 10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063|pmid=3397865|s2cid= 7679194}}</ref> PA also strongly relates to [[life satisfaction]].<ref name="Judge">{{cite journal |last1= Judge|first1= Timothy A.|last2= Locke|first2= Edwin A.|last3= Durham|first3= Cathy C.|last4= Kluger|first4= Avraham N.|date= February 1998|title= Dispositional Effects on Job and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Core Evaluations|journal= [[Journal of Applied Psychology]]|volume= 83|issue= 1|pages= 17–34|doi= 10.1037/0021-9010.83.1.17|pmid=9494439}}</ref> The high energy and engagement, [[optimism]], and social interest characteristic of high-PA individuals suggest that they are more likely to be satisfied with their lives.<ref name="Watson 1"/><ref name="Tellegen">Tellegen, A. (1985). "Structures of mood and personality and their relevance to assessing anxiety, with an emphasis on self-report". In A. H. Tuma & J. D. Maser (Eds.), ''Anxiety and the Anxiety Disorders'', (pp.&nbsp;681–706), Hilssdale, NJ: Erlbaum.</ref> In fact, the content similarities between these affective traits and life satisfaction have led some researchers to view both PA, NA, and life satisfaction as specific indicators of the broader construct of [[subjective well-being]].<ref name="DeNeve">{{cite journal |last1= DeNeve|first1= Kristina M.|last2= Cooper|first2= Harris|date= September 1998|title= The Happy Personality: A Meta-Analysis of 137 Personality Traits and Subjective Well-Being|journal= Psychological Bulletin|volume= 124|issue= 2|pages= 197–229|doi= 10.1037/0033-2909.124.2.197|pmid=9747186}}</ref><ref name="PA"/>

PA may influence the relationships between variables in [[Organizational psychology|organizational research]].<ref name="Jex">{{cite journal |last1= Jex|first1= Steve M.|last2= Spector|first2= Paul E.|date= 1996|title= The impact of negative affectivity on stressor-strain relations: A replication and extension|journal= [[Work & Stress]]|volume= 10|issue= 1|pages= 36–45|doi= 10.1080/02678379608256783}}</ref><ref name="Williams">{{cite journal |last1= Williams|first1= Larry J.|last2= Anderson|first2= Stella E.|date= June 1994|title= An Alternative Approach to Method Effects by Using Latent-Variable Models: Applications in Organizational Behavior Research|journal= Journal of Applied Psychology|volume= 79|issue= 3|pages= 323–331|doi= 10.1037/0021-9010.79.3.323}}</ref> PA increases attentional focus and behavioral repertoire, and these enhanced personal resources can help to overcome or deal with distressing situations. These resources are physical (e.g., better health), social (e.g., [[social support]] [[Social network|networks]]), and intellectual and psychological (e.g., [[Psychological resilience|resilience]], optimism, and [[creativity]]).

PA provides a psychological break or respite from [[Stress (psychological)|stress]],<ref name="AllostaticLoad"/> supporting continued efforts to replenish resources depleted by stress.<ref name="Lazarus">Lazarus, R. S. (1991). ''Emotion and Adaptation''. NY: Oxford Univ. Press.</ref><ref name="Khosla">Khosla, M. (2006 c). Finding benefit in adversity. Manuscript in press.</ref> Its buffering functions provide a useful antidote to the problems associated with negative emotions and ill health due to stress,<ref name=Fredrickson2001/> as PA reduces allostatic load.<ref name="AllostaticLoad"/> Likewise, happy people are better at coping. McCrae and Costa<ref name="McCrae">{{cite journal |last1= McCrae|first1= Robert R.|last2= Costa|first2= Paul T. Jr. |date= June 1986|title= Personality, coping, and coping effectiveness in an adult sample|journal= [[Journal of Personality]]|volume= 54|issue= 2|pages= 385–404|doi= 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1986.tb00401.x}}</ref> concluded that PA was associated with more mature coping efforts.

===Negative affectivity===
{{Main|Negative affectivity}}
Positive affectivity (PA) and negative affectivity (NA) are nearly independent of each other;<ref name="EPP">Naragon, K., & Watson, D. (2009). "Positive affectivity". In S. Lopez (Ed.), ''The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology'' (pp. 707–711). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.</ref> it is possible for a person to be high in both PA and NA, high in one and low in the other, or low in both. Affectivity has been found to be moderately stable over time and across situations (such as working versus relaxing).<ref name="EPP"/> Positive affectivity may influence an individual's choices in general, particularly their responses to questionnaires.

==Neuropsychology==
Studies are finding there is a relationship between dopamine release and positive affect in cognitive abilities.<ref name="auto"/> For instance, when dopamine levels are low, positive affect can stimulate the release of more dopamine, temporarily increasing cognitive, motor, and emotional processing. Stimulating dopamine release influences several cognitive functions. First, an increase in dopamine in the nigrostriatal system can temporarily relieve motor or cognitive dysfunction, due to Parkinson's.

An increase in dopamine release also influences the mesocorticolimbic system through the [[Ventral tegmental area|VTA]] cells, increasing mood and open mindedness in older adults. Positive affect also stimulates dopamine production in the prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate facilities, which help with processing working memory and executive attention. Lastly, PA indirectly improves memory consolidation in the hippocampus, by increasing acetylcholine release from an increase in dopamine.<ref name="auto"/>

==Business management==
Positive affectivity is a managerial and organizational behavior tool used to create positive environments in the workplace. Through the use of PA, the manager can induce a positive employee experience and culture. "Since affectivity is related to the employee experiences, we expect the employees with high PA to feel considerable organizational support. Their optimism and confidence also helps them discuss their views in a manner characterized by constructive controversy with their supervisor, so that problems are solved and their positive feelings confirmed".<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hui|first1=Chun|last2=Wong|first2=Alfred|last3=Tjosvold|first3=Dean|title=Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology (2007), 80, 735–751|journal=Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology|page=738}}</ref> Positive Affectivity allows creative problem solving to flourish in an environment where employees are not intimidated to approach managers, therefore employees believe they are playing a key role in the organization in coming forward with solutions. The goal is to maximize PA and minimize any negative affectivity circulating in the business. Negative emotions, such as [[fear]], [[anger]], stress, [[hostility]], [[sadness]], and [[guilt (emotion)|guilt]], increase the predictability of [[workplace deviance]],<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lee|last2=Kibeom|last3=Allen|first3=Natalie J|title=Organizational Citizenship Behavior and Workplace Deviance: The Role of Affect and Cognitions|journal=Journal of Applied Psychology|date=2002|volume=87|issue=1|pages= 131–142|doi=10.1037/0021-9010.87.1.131|pmid=11916207}}</ref> and therefore reduce the productivity of the business.

==Testing==
Because there is not a hard-and-fast rule for defining certain levels of positive affectivity, different [[Self-report study|self-reported assessments]] use different scales of measure.<ref name="EPP"/> Several prominent tests are listed below; in each of these, the respondent determines the degree to which a given adjective or phrase accurately characterizes him or her.

*Differential Emotions Scale (DES): A PA scale that assesses enjoyment (happy or joyful feelings) and interest (excitement, [[alertness]], [[curiosity]]).<ref name="EPP"/>
*Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist – Revised (MAACL-R): Measures PA according to the DES scale and to an additional scale assessing thrill-seeking behavior (i.e., how daring or adventurous the person is).<ref name="EPP"/>
*Profile of Mood States (POMS): Uses vigor scale to assess the domain of PA.<ref name="EPP"/>
*Expanded Form of the [[Positive and Negative Affect Schedule]] (PANAS-X): This test uses three main scales: joviality (how cheerful, happy, or lively), self-assurance (how confident and strong), and attentiveness (alertness and concentration).<ref name="EPP"/>
*International [[Positive and Negative Affect Schedule]] Short-Form (I-PANAS-SF): This is a brief, 10-item version of the PANAS that has been developed and extensively validated for use in English with both native and non-native English speakers.<ref name="Thompson">{{cite journal|last=Thompson|first=E.R.|title=Development and validation of an internationally reliable short-form of the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS)|journal=[[Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology]]|year=2007|volume=38|issue=2|pages=227–242|doi=10.1177/0022022106297301|s2cid=145498269|url=http://dionysus.psych.wisc.edu/lit/Articles/ThompsonE2007a.pdf}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Internal consistency]] reliability for the 5-item PA scale is reported to range between .72 and .78.<ref name="Thompson" />

==See also==
* [[Affection]]
* [[Anhedonia]]
* [[Gratitude]]
* [[Happiness]]
* [[Joy]]
* [[Contentment|Satisfaction]]
* [[Surgency]]

==References==
<references/>

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |last1= Bushman|first1= Bryan B.|last2= Crowley|first2= Susan L.|date= February 2010|title= Is the Structure of Affect Similar for Younger and Older Children? Cross-Sectional Differences in Negative and Positive Affectivity|journal= [[Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment]]|volume= 28|issue= 1|pages= 31–39|doi= 10.1177/0734282909337584|s2cid= 144121162}}
*{{cite journal | last1 = Congard | first1 = A. | last2 = Dauvier | first2 = B. | last3 = Antoine | first3 = P. | last4 = Gilles | first4 = P. | year = 2011 | title = Integrating personality, daily life events and emotion: Role of anxiety and positive affect in emotion regulation dynamics | journal = Journal of Research in Personality | volume = 45 | issue = 4| pages = 372–384 | doi = 10.1016/j.jrp.2011.04.004 | url = https://hal.science/hal-01772368/file/Congard%20et%20al.%20-%202011%20-%20Postprint_Integrating%20personality%2C%20daily%20life%20events%20and%20emo.pdf }}
*{{cite journal | last1 = Grafton | first1 = B | year = 2012 | title = The ups and downs of cognitive bias: Dissociating the attentional characteristics of positive and negative affectivity | journal = Journal of Cognitive Psychology | volume = 24 | issue = 1| pages = 33–53 | doi=10.1080/20445911.2011.578066| s2cid = 145185201 }}
*Lopez, S. J. (2008). Positive psychology: Exploring the best in people. (Vol. 2). Westport, CT: Praeger Publications.
*Lopez, S., & Snyder, C. R. (2009). Oxford handbook of positive psychology. (2nd ed.). Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
*Tomkins, S. S. (1962). Affect, imagery, consciousness. (Vol. I). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, Inc.

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[[Category:Personality]]
[[Category:Positive psychology]]
[[Category:Emotional issues]]
[[Category:Affection]]