General Flourishing
What does it mean to flourish?
To live well and experience wellbeing, growth, meaningful relationships, and personal development.
Name two examples of positive emotions.
Joy, gratitude, interest, hope, love, inspiration, etc.
Who developed the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions?
Barbara L. Fredrickson.
What is an upward spiral?
A pattern in which positive emotions and experiences can build on one another and contribute to future wellbeing.
Name one common college experience that can negatively affect emotional wellbeing.
Possible answers: academic stress, lack of sleep, time management, loneliness, workload, balancing responsibilities, etc.
Flourishing means feeling happy all the time. True or False, and why?
False. Flourishing includes being able to grow and function well even when experiencing stress or difficult emotions.
According to Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory, what can positive emotions do to our thinking?
They can broaden our thoughts and actions, helping us notice more possibilities and become more open to new experiences.
In the phrase "broaden-and-build," what does "broaden" refer to?
Positive emotions can broaden our momentary thoughts and actions, allowing us to notice more possibilities and explore new ideas or experiences.
Give an example of a sequence that best represents an upward spiral.
Gratitude → reaching out to a friend → stronger connection → more positive experiences
A student thinks, "I'm going to fail this exam, so there's no point in studying." What type of thinking does this resemble?
An Automatic Negative Thought (ANT), specifically an example of negative or all-or-nothing thinking.
Name two parts of wellbeing that can contribute to flourishing besides happiness.
Possible answers include meaningful relationships, personal growth, purpose, resilience, or emotional wellbeing.
You want to attend a new club on campus, so you decide to attend even though you don't know anyone. What positive emotion is helping you explore something new?
Interest or curiosity.
In the phrase "broaden-and-build," what does "build" refer to?
Positive experiences can help us develop lasting resources, such as social connections, knowledge, skills, confidence, and resilience.
According to Fredrickson and Joiner, how can positive emotions contribute to upward spirals?
Positive emotions can broaden thinking and actions, which may lead to behaviors and experiences that build resources and create opportunities for future positive experiences.
A student is overwhelmed by assignments and thinks, "I'm completely behind. I'll never catch up." What could they do to interrupt this negative thought cycle?
Recognize and question the thought, break the work into smaller steps, make a plan, and seek support if needed.
A student is stressed about an exam but has supportive friends, a sense of purpose, and continues learning from challenges. Can this student still be flourishing? Explain why.
Yes. Flourishing does not require someone to be happy all the time. A person can experience stress while still experiencing growth, connection, purpose, and wellbeing.
Why does Fredrickson argue that positive emotions are important beyond simply making us feel good?
Positive emotions can broaden our thinking and actions and help us build lasting resources such as relationships, skills, knowledge, and resilience.
A student feels interested in joining a new organization. They attend meetings, make friends, develop leadership skills, and become more confident. How does this example demonstrate the broaden-and-build theory?
Interest broadens the student's willingness to explore something new. Joining the organization then helps the student build social connections, skills, and confidence.
Create your own example of an upward spiral involving a college student. Your example must include a positive emotion, an action, and a resource that is built.
Answers will vary.
Example:
Interest → joining a club → meeting new people → building friendships → feeling more connected.
A student has a stressful week but decides to go for a walk with a friend. They feel better, talk through their stress, and return to their work feeling more supported. How could this connect to both positive emotions and upward spirals?
Spending time with a friend can create positive emotions and strengthen social support. That new resource may help the student cope with future stress and create additional positive experiences.