Positive affectivity

Positive affectivity (PA) is a human characteristic that describes how much people experience positive affects (sensations, emotions, sentiments); and as a consequence how they interact with others and with their surroundings.[1]

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.[2][3] People with a high positive affectivity have healthier coping styles, more positive self-qualities, and are more goal oriented.[4][3] Positive affectivity also promotes an open-minded attitude, sociability, and helpfulness.[1]

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.[5]

  1. ^ a b Ashby, F. G.; Isen, A. M.; Turken, A. U. (1999). "A neuropsychological theory of positive affect and its influence on cognition". Psychological Review. 106 (3): 529–550. doi:10.1037/0033-295x.106.3.529. PMID 10467897.
  2. ^ Schenk, H.M.; et al. (2017). "Associations of Positive Affect and Negative Affect With Allostatic Load: A Lifelines Cohort Study" (PDF). Psychosomatic Medicine. 80 (2): 160–166. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000546. PMID 29215457. S2CID 20121114.
  3. ^ a b Paterson, T. S.; Yeung, S. E.; Thornton, W. L. (2015). "Positive affect predicts everyday problem-solving ability in older adults". Aging & Mental Health. 20 (8): 871–879. doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1043619. PMID 26033072. S2CID 4058593.
  4. ^ Li, Y. I.; Starr, L. R.; Hershenberg, R. (2017). "Responses to positive affect in daily life: positive rumination and dampening moderate the association between daily events and depressive symptoms". Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. 39 (3): 412–425. doi:10.1007/s10862-017-9593-y. S2CID 151923179.
  5. ^ Cohen, Jonah N.; et al. (2017). "Positive and negative affect as links between social anxiety and depression: predicting concurrent and prospective mood symptoms in unipolar and bipolar mood disorders". Behavior Therapy. 48 (6): 820–833. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2017.07.003. PMC 6028186. PMID 29029678.