broaden-and-build theory

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

a theory of positive emotions proposed by Barbara Fredrickson at the University of Michigan, arguing that positive emotions such as joy, interest, contentment, and love broaden an individual's momentary thought-action repertoires, expanding the range of thoughts and actions that come to mind, and that this broadened awareness builds enduring personal resources including physical, intellectual, social, and psychological resources; the theory explains why positive emotions promote flourishing and resilience beyond the moment of their occurrence, contrasting with negative emotions which narrow thought-action repertoires to specific survival-oriented responses; supported by experimental research since the late 1990s