Final answer:
The broaden-and-build model of emotion focuses on how positive emotions expand our awareness and encourage behaviors that help build skills and resources for future use, thus promoting long-term well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The broaden-and-build model of emotion was proposed by psychologist Barbara Fredrickson to describe the positive emotions that broaden our awareness and encourage novel, varied, and exploratory thoughts and actions. Over time, this broadened behavioral repertoire builds skills and resources. For instance, joy sparks the urge to play, push the limits, and be creative; curiosity about a social partner or unfamiliar object leads to exploration and learning; contentment leads to savoring and integration. Unlike negative emotions, which prompt narrow, immediate survival-oriented behaviors, positive emotions broaden an individual’s momentary thought-action repertoire, promoting long-term health and well-being.
This theory contends that while negative emotions typically require a narrow, immediate response, positive emotions like joy and interest expand our awareness, allowing us to build new skills, social bonds, knowledge, and behaviors, which can be beneficial for survival in the long term. It’s a contrast to other theories of emotion focusing predominantly on survival mechanisms, highlighting the significance of positive emotions in enhancing human flourishing.