Table 1 Description of ten positive... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1

Description of ten positive emotions

Emotion	Appraisal that triggers it	Thought-action repertoire it sparks	The durable resources that it helps build
Love	Love, closeness, or trust. Arises when other positive emotions are felt in the context of a safe interpersonal connection or relationship	Any/all of the above, with mutual care	Any/all of the above, especially social bonds and community
Joy	Feeling safe, familiar, unexpectedly good. When one’s current circumstances present unexpected good fortune	Creates the urge to play or get involved	Skills gained via experiential learning
Gratitude	Receives a gift or benefit. When someone acknowledges another person as the source of unexpected good fortune	The creative urge to be prosocial, kind, and generous to oneself	New skills for showing care, kindness, loyalty, social bonds
Serenity/contentment	Safe, familiar, low effort. When people interpret their circumstances as right, cherished, at ease, at one with their situation, or satisfying	Save and integrate into new priorities	New priorities, new views of self, more refined sense of sense
Interest	Arises in circumstances appraised as safe but offering novelty, mysterious or challenging but not overwhelming	Creates the urge to explore, learn, expand self, and immerse oneself in the novelty	Knowledge gained
Hope	Hopeful, optimistic, or encouraged. Arises in circumstances in which people fear the worst yet yearn for better	Plan for a better future	Resilience to adversity, optimism
Pride	Arises when people take credit for socially valued good outcomes or accomplish an important goal	Creates the urge to dream big	Achievement motivation
Amusement	Amused, fun-loving, or silly; when people identify their circumstances as involving non-serious incongruity	Creates the urge to laugh and be jovial	Social bonds formed and endured
Inspiration	Inspired, uplifted, or elevated. Emerges when people witness human excellence	Creates urge to excel or reach personal best	Motivation for personal growth
Awe	Awe, wonder, amazement. Emerges when people encounter goodness on a grand scale	Compels people to absorb and accommodate the vastness they've encountered	New worldviews

Emotion	Appraisal that triggers it	Thought-action repertoire it sparks	The durable resources that it helps build
Love	Love, closeness, or trust. Arises when other positive emotions are felt in the context of a safe interpersonal connection or relationship	Any/all of the above, with mutual care	Any/all of the above, especially social bonds and community
Joy	Feeling safe, familiar, unexpectedly good. When one’s current circumstances present unexpected good fortune	Creates the urge to play or get involved	Skills gained via experiential learning
Gratitude	Receives a gift or benefit. When someone acknowledges another person as the source of unexpected good fortune	The creative urge to be prosocial, kind, and generous to oneself	New skills for showing care, kindness, loyalty, social bonds
Serenity/contentment	Safe, familiar, low effort. When people interpret their circumstances as right, cherished, at ease, at one with their situation, or satisfying	Save and integrate into new priorities	New priorities, new views of self, more refined sense of sense
Interest	Arises in circumstances appraised as safe but offering novelty, mysterious or challenging but not overwhelming	Creates the urge to explore, learn, expand self, and immerse oneself in the novelty	Knowledge gained
Hope	Hopeful, optimistic, or encouraged. Arises in circumstances in which people fear the worst yet yearn for better	Plan for a better future	Resilience to adversity, optimism
Pride	Arises when people take credit for socially valued good outcomes or accomplish an important goal	Creates the urge to dream big	Achievement motivation
Amusement	Amused, fun-loving, or silly; when people identify their circumstances as involving non-serious incongruity	Creates the urge to laugh and be jovial	Social bonds formed and endured
Inspiration	Inspired, uplifted, or elevated. Emerges when people witness human excellence	Creates urge to excel or reach personal best	Motivation for personal growth
Awe	Awe, wonder, amazement. Emerges when people encounter goodness on a grand scale	Compels people to absorb and accommodate the vastness they've encountered	New worldviews

Source(s): Adapted from Fredrickson (2013)