What is broaden-and-build theory in simple terms?

Good feelings widen thinking, and those wider experiences add up to lasting resources.

Are negative emotions bad?

No; they help with threats, while positive emotions are useful in a different way.

Broaden-and-Build Theory

🧠 Psychology By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated October 27, 2026

Broaden-and-build theory, proposed by Barbara Fredrickson, holds that whereas negative emotions narrow thought toward specific actions such as fleeing or fighting, positive emotions broaden attention and thought-action repertoires, and these broadened experiences build physical, social and psychological resources over time.

Contents

1. Broaden hypothesis
2. Build hypothesis and spirals
3. Undoing effect and debate
4. FAQ
5. References

Broaden hypothesis

Fredrickson (1998, 2001) argued joy, interest and contentment widen thought-action repertoires, and Fredrickson and Branigan (2005) found broadened attention after induced positive emotion, a core idea of positive psychology.

Build hypothesis and spirals

Fredrickson and Joiner (2002) reported upward spirals, and Fredrickson and colleagues (2008) found loving-kindness meditation built resources and life satisfaction, related to self-efficacy.

Undoing effect and debate

Fredrickson and Levenson (1998) showed faster cardiovascular recovery. Some findings proved hard to replicate and the positivity-ratio claim was retracted; durability is debated alongside hedonic adaptation.

FAQ

What is broaden-and-build theory in simple terms?: Good feelings widen thinking, and those wider experiences add up to lasting resources.
Are negative emotions bad?: No; they help with threats, while positive emotions are useful in a different way.

Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26

References

Fredrickson, B. L. (1998). What good are positive emotions? Review of General Psychology, 2(3), 300–319. The original proposal.
Fredrickson, B. L., & Levenson, R. W. (1998). Positive emotions speed recovery from the cardiovascular sequelae of negative emotions. Cognition and Emotion, 12(2), 191–220. The undoing effect.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218–226. The best-known statement.
Fredrickson, B. L., & Joiner, T. (2002). Positive emotions trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-being. Psychological Science, 13(2), 172–175. Upward spirals.
Fredrickson, B. L., & Branigan, C. (2005). Positive emotions broaden the scope of attention and thought-action repertoires. Cognition and Emotion, 19(3), 313–332. Tests the broaden hypothesis.
Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1045–1062. Tests the build hypothesis.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2009). Positivity. Crown. A popular introduction.

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This article was last updated on October 27, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.