The positive effects of positive emotions

Summary

This talk explores the under-researched realm of positive emotions, challenging the traditional focus on negative emotions like anger and fear. It presents studies showing positive emotions, particularly joy, pride, contentment, and awe, correlate with lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are linked to health issues. The speaker emphasizes awe's unique role in promoting health, suggesting it may reduce stress, enhance social connection, and encourage exploration, potentially improving physical well-being.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Psychologists have historically focused more on negative emotions like anger, fear, anxiety, and sadness, leading to a skewed view of human emotional experience.
• 🌟 Positive emotions such as compassion, joy, love, and awe are not only more common but also have significant impacts on health, relationships, and well-being.
• 🧬 Research indicates a link between positive emotions and lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are markers of immune function and can contribute to health issues when chronically elevated.
• 🧪 Two studies were conducted measuring positive emotions and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels, finding that positive emotions correlated with lower IL-6 levels, suggesting better health outcomes.
• 📊 Specific positive emotions—joy, pride, contentment, and awe—were found to be particularly predictive of lower IL-6 levels, with awe showing the strongest negative relationship.
• 🤔 The exact reasons why awe is such a strong predictor of good health are not yet fully understood but may relate to its ability to reduce stress, increase social connection, and promote exploration.
• 🏞️ Awe is a powerful emotion that can be experienced regularly and is not limited to extraordinary or remote experiences; it can be felt through music, stargazing, or witnessing exceptional human achievements.
• 🌱 The study of awe in psychology is relatively new, yet it's already revealing its potential to improve physical health and well-being.
• 💡 The findings have prompted a shift in the field of psychology, encouraging a reevaluation of positive emotions as essential for mental and physical health, rather than just the absence of negative emotions.
• 🔍 There is still much to learn about the emotion of awe, but the research suggests that engaging with the beauty and vastness of the world could have tangible health benefits.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of traditional psychological research on emotions?

Traditional psychological research has primarily focused on negative emotions such as anger, fear, anxiety, and sadness.

Why is the focus on negative emotions considered one-sided according to the speaker?

The focus on negative emotions is considered one-sided because it fails to capture the beauty and resilience of the human experience, which includes a wide variety of positive emotions.

How often do people experience positive emotions compared to negative ones?

People experience positive emotions three times as often as negative emotions in their everyday lives.

What are pro-inflammatory cytokines and what role do they play in the immune system?

Pro-inflammatory cytokines are proteins that act as regulators of the immune system, promoting inflammation in response to infection, illness, or injury.

What is the relationship between chronic elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and health?

Chronic elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines can have harmful effects on health, contributing to conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression.

Which specific pro-inflammatory cytokine did the speaker's research focus on?

The research focused on a pro-inflammatory cytokine called interleukin 6 (IL-6).

What was the hypothesis of the speaker's research regarding positive emotions and IL-6 levels?

The hypothesis was that individuals who experience more positive emotions would have lower levels of IL-6 circulating in their bodies.

Which four positive emotions were found to be particularly good predictors of lower IL-6 levels?

Joy, Pride, Contentment, and Awe were found to be particularly good predictors of lower IL-6 levels.

Why does the speaker consider the emotion of awe to be transformative?

Awe is considered transformative because it is a powerful emotion that can inspire great works of art, incite religious movements, and generate philosophical thoughts about the sublime.

How often do people on average report feeling awe, according to the speaker?

People report feeling awe about twice a week on average.

What are some potential reasons why awe might be a better predictor of good health than other positive emotions?

Awe might be a better predictor of good health because it is particularly potent at reducing stress, increasing feelings of social connection, and generating a desire to engage or explore the world, all of which could impact physical health.