We propose a methodological framework for the study of emotional control based on extensive computer simulations with artificial agents implementing emotional control mechanisms and demonstrate the methodology with simulations experiments in an artificial environment. Specifically, a biologically plausible schema-based model of basic forms of fear and anger is proposed and tested with respect to a variety of parameter ranges.

We present an evolutionary framework for examining the influence of different positive emotions on cognition and behavior. Testing this framework, we investigate how two positive emotions—pride and contentment—influence product desirability. Three experiments show that different positive emotions (compared with a neutral control condition) have specific effects on judgment that are consistent with the proposed underlying evolved function of each positive emotion. As predicted by the framework, the specific influences of pride and contentment on product desirability are mediated by the triggering of emotion-specific functional motives. Overall, an evolutionary approach presents important research implications and practical applications for how and why discernible positive and negative emotions influence thinking and behavior. We discuss the implications of an evolutionary approach for the study of emotions, highlighting key similarities and differences between this and other approaches, as well as noting the advantages of incorporating an evolutionary approach. Consider a shopper who is in a great mood. She might

Please use your Hofstra email account to send me an email. If an occasion arises and you must email me from your personal account, please write PSY XXX- Hofstra in the Re-Subject box. This will indicate to me that the email is from a Hofstra student in the course PSY XXX. Your email will then be given priority over the many others I receive daily. All official communication sent to you via email will be through your Hofstra email address. All students are responsible for information sent via your official Hofstra email address. CHECK YOUR HOFSTRA EMAIL ADDRESS DAILY. Course Description: Prior to World War II, psychology had three main missions: make the lives of all people fulfilling; identify and enhance human excellence; and treat pathology. Nonetheless, in the last half-century psychology has largely focused on decreasing maladaptive emotions and behaviors, while ignoring optimal functioning (e.g., happiness and life satisfaction). Positive psychology is the study of how human beings prosper in the face of adversity. Its goal is to identify and enhance the human strengths and virtues that make life worth living (“The good life”) and allow individuals and communities to thrive (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). This course will provide an introduction to positive psychology. It is designed to explore the

While often used in everyday exchanges, feeling vigorous at work, that is individuals ’ feelings that they have physical strength, emotional energy, and cognitive liveliness, has hardly been subjected to any conceptual inquiry or empirical research. In this chapter, I pursue the following objectives: (a) to review the range of behavioral science literature in which vigor has been considered as a distinct affect; (b) based on this review, to present a conceptual framework of vigor at work; (c) to explore the antecedents of vigor and its consequences, including vigor’s possible effects on individuals ’ mental and physical health, and job performance; and (d) to describe a proposed measure of vigor at work and the results of an effort to construct validate the new measure. I conclude by pointing out a few

Each year, towards the end of June, postgraduate researchers from Informatics at the University of Sussex get together to discuss their research and (probably more importantly) socialise. The two-day Isle Of Thorns Annual Graduate Workshop, named after a former conference centre of the University of Sussex, is taking place this year at the Cavendish Hotel for the first time. Each delegate will present a brief overview of their research, gaining valuable research experience as well as the opportunity to take advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of Informatics. Named after one of the buildings at the original conference centre, the White House Papers was formally the follow-up publication for the workshop. Following the precedent set by last year’s workshop, the White House Papers are being published in advance of the conference and are intended to provide a wide snapshot of postgraduate research in Informatics. Intended to be easy reading, the 17th White House Papers consists of typically two-page submissions accompanied by author photographs and short biographies. Due to the breadth of research being carried out in Informatics, much of the

This paper reviews the elements of subjective well-being (i.e., emotional, psychological, and social well-being) and describes a measurement system for tracking high-level well-being (i.e., flourishing) in employees. Because empirical studies reveal a positive correlation between employee well-being and an array of business outcomes, this paper proposes a theoretical model of a mechanism for promoting employee well-being. Specifically, studies show that the exercise of legitimate authority with regard to subordinates promotes a host of positive outcomes and feelings in employees. This paper proposes a theory of positive organizations in which the promotion of legitimate leadership creates a positive cycle through which employee well-being affects positive business outcomes that feed back into sustaining employee well-being and the legitimation of leaders. This process, it is argued, helps make positive organizations become efficient and constructive producers of profit.

Abstract Understanding means identifying and using a structure. The core of understanding consists in identifying relevant relations between objects, between parts and their relation to the whole that is to be understood. Identifying relations contributes to enhanced understanding since finding more relations makes it possible to understand from different points of view. Understanding is thus closely related to problem solving. To understand involves solving a difficulty, finding out how something works, merging two different viewpoints etc. All of these tasks involve solving some kind of problems. I argue that emotions function as a beacon and play an important role when understanding occurs. First, emotion is used as a cue to identify where there is a difficulty, e.g. if something seems to be ambiguous. Secondly, using emotion as a tool for evaluation, the ongoing process of understanding can be monitored. My arguments are primarily discussed and interpreted in relation to understanding occurring in an educational perspective. 1

theory of positive emotions and M. Losada’s (1999) nonlinear dynamics model of team performance, the authors predict that a ratio of positive to negative affect at or above 2.9 will characterize individuals in flourishing mental health. Participants (N � 188) completed an initial survey to identify flourishing mental health and then provided daily reports of experienced positive and negative emotions over 28 days. Results showed that the mean ratio of positive to negative affect was above 2.9 for individuals classified as flourishing and below that threshold for those not flourishing. Together with other evidence, these findings suggest that a set of general mathematical principles may describe the relations between positive affect and human flourishing.

In this study, I applied “appreciative inquiry ” to enhance understanding of the organizational environment, management practices, and sociocognitive determinants that are associated with successful information systems projects. In a series of 31 interviews and seven focus groups, IT professionals from various ranks and organizations followed an appreciative inquiry method to identify critical success factors of information systems projects. In addition to the traditional factors revealed by previous research on project success, the crucial impact of positive affect among IT professionals on overall project success was discovered. The findings have immediate implications for the management of information systems projects. The study shows that IT organizations need to pay careful attention not only to project management practices and socio-cultural issues. They also need to enhance positive affect among the individuals who are entrusted to design, build and maintain information systems. In addition, the study demonstrated how the affirmative perspective provided by appreciative inquiry can contribute to research.