The Effect of Positive Emotions with Different Arousal Levels on Thought–Action Repertoires1,2

Abstract

AbstractThis study examined whether the induction of different states of arousal via positive emotions broadens thought–action repertoires. Sixty‐two Japanese undergraduate and graduate students were randomly assigned to (a) high‐arousal positive emotion, (b) low‐arousal positive emotion, and (c) neutral groups, after which they watched a 3‐min film clip. Participants completed the Affect Grid to confirm their mood state before and after watching the film. Following this, they completed the Twenty Statements Test, which measures thought–action repertoires. A one‐way analysis of variance was conducted on the Twenty Statements Test score. The results showed that high‐arousal positive emotion broadened thought–action repertoires to a greater extent than did low‐arousal positive emotion and the neutral state, while low‐arousal positive emotion broadened such repertoires to a greater extent than did the neutral state. We discuss the different effects of high‐ and low‐arousal positive emotions on thought–action repertoires.