Which theory proposed by Barbara Fredrickson suggests that positive emotions broaden attention and thinking and build lasting personal resources over time?

• A. Expressive Behaviors
• B. Catharsis Hypothesis
• C. Broaden-and-Build Theory of Emotion
• D. Cognitive Appraisal

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is that positive emotions do more than feel pleasant in the moment; they broaden what we notice and how we think, and over time they help us build lasting personal resources. When you’re in a good mood, you tend to think more flexibly, notice a wider range of possibilities, and act more playfully or creatively. That broadening of attention and thought-action repertoire makes it easier to try new activities, form connections, and solve problems in novel ways. As these positive experiences accumulate, they build lasting resources such as stronger relationships, new skills, better health, and greater resilience. Those resources then help you handle future challenges, creating a virtuous cycle of well-being.

That’s why this theory best fits: it specifically links positive emotions to broadened thinking and to the growth of durable resources over time. The other ideas don’t capture that process. Expressive behaviors focus on outward displays of emotion rather than how positive feelings change thinking and build resources. The Catharsis Hypothesis centers on releasing emotion to relieve arousal, not on broadening cognition or building resources. Cognitive Appraisal describes how we interpret events to generate emotions, rather than how positive emotions expand thought and contribute to enduring personal assets.