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Category: Project

Description: Fredrickson (2016) has advanced an innovative scientific theory that postulates the most elemental core of love to be positivity resonance, defined as brief moments in which two or more people experience shared positive affect, mutual care and concern, and synchrony in behavior and biology. Fredrickson's team has published research showing that frequent positivity resonance in daily life predicts superior mental and physical health among adults (Major, Le Nguyen, Lundberg & Fredrickson, 2018). Importantly, individuals experiencing positivity resonance transcend self-interest. Accordingly, Fredrickson and her team hypothesize that positivity resonance strengthens the self-transcendent virtues of spirituality, altruism, and humility. In ongoing work, Fredrickson's team is conducting a randomized controlled longitudinal study to test whether a positivity resonance intervention (suitable for adults) serves to build self-transcendent virtues. Preliminary evidence shows reliable correlations between positivity resonance and virtues, both experienced and enacted. A pilot cross-sectional correlational study is herein proposed to test whether similar correlations emerge for adolescents. Perceived positivity resonance will be assessed via a validated self-report scale (sample item: Thoughts and feelings flow with ease between me and others). The virtues of spirituality, altruism and humility are assessed via self-reports (sample item: I feel that I have both many strengths and flaws Whether big or small, I sometimes go out of my way to help others) as well as by validated implicit assessments (i.e., short writing assignments; sample item: Describe yourself. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? How did you become who you are today? (Kruse, Chancellor & Lyubomirsky, 2017). Supportive evidence from this pilot study would support the development of age-appropriate interventions to increase positivity resonance in middle and high school students, as well as the design of future longitudinal randomized controlled trails of the effectiveness of such interventions on character development and school success.