Our emotions influence how we view and react to our surroundings. One of the most popular ones is Broaden-and-Build Theory by psychologist Barbara Fredrickson which speculates that positive emotions can broaden your thought-action repertoire and build your relevant physical, intellectual, and social resources. The broaden-and-build this refers to is that experiencing positive emotions allows us to widen our thought-action repertoire to make us more open to our environment in various ways, to see more possibilities, to think more creatively and build long-term psychological and social resources.
The Broaden-and-Build Theory Explained
The Broaden-and-Build Theory suggests that while negativity narrows our resourcefulness and elicits self-preservation behaviors (fight or flight), positivity does the reverse — it allows our worldview to broaden and encourages exploration. This expanding process enables people to conceptualize in more creative and integrative directions so they can develop lasting personal and social resources.
Fredrickson’s research shows that more positive emotions — joy, love, curiosity, gratitude — help people tackle challenges more expansively and flexibly. Positive emotions help people develop creative solutions, appreciate alternative viewpoints and see many options in a situation.
How Positive Emotions Widen Cognitive Flexibility
- Building on Problem-Solving Skills
Positive emotions promote divergent thinking—the capacity to generate many solutions to a problem. In fact, research has found that people who are in a positive mood do better on creative problem-solving tasks than those in a neutral or negative mood. - Boosting Open-Mindedness
An expanded mindset enables individuals to make connections they may not have otherwise identified. This is especially important in collaborative environments, where varied viewpoints instigate novel concepts and solutions. - Will you be celebrating risk-taking and exploration?
A positive emotional state makes us more willing to take calculated risks and an interest in exploring the unknown. Such openness promotes learning and growth and versatility, which are vital in a rapidly evolving world. - Improving Social Connectivity
Positive emotions increase interpersonal relationship which leads to better support network and cooperation. This is a perspective that can be quite sustainable when it comes to interactions, since if a person approaches everyone with a good heart, they’re less likely to burn bridges and lose opportunities that could benefit them in the long run.
Applications in Daily Life
The Broaden-and-Build Theory: Broader Perspective of Life Have Meaning for Personal or Professional Growth Here are some ways to foster positive emotions that can increase cognitive flexibility:
- Be grateful: Reminiscing good times can divert attention from stress and evoke more of an open frame of mind.
- Exercise, Play Music, Hobbies — Engage in Joyful Activities, whatever art you love, bring joy to you, continuity helps with mood and thinking
- Cultivate Healthy Relationships: When we surround ourselves with positive people, we absorb good feelings and grow better.
- Reframe Challenges as Opportunities: When you look at obstacles with an optimistic mindset, it can open the door to creative solutions and new opportunities.
Conclusion
The Broaden-and-Build Theory describes how positive emotions can broaden cognitive flexibility and inspire creativity. Positivity opens up new avenues of thought, can create a wellspring of creativity that is available for many years, and serves to build lasting personal and social resources. Data is up to October 2023.
