Pleasant Emotions Research Articles

The effect of pleasurable emotions on weight perception.

Based on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and embodied cognition theory, this study explored the effects of two different forms of pleasure on the perception of object weight through two experiments. Experiment 1 induced pleasure by having participants watch a funny video and further investigated the effect of pleasure on weight perception. The results showed that the weight estimation of the pleasure group participants was significantly lower than that of the calm group. Experiment 2 induced pleasure through embodied pleasure postures and further investigated the effect of pleasure on weight perception. The results showed that subjects in the embodied pleasure posture group had lighter weight estimates compared to the calm posture and no posture groups. This study suggests that pleasure affects individuals' perception of the weight of objects, and pleasure makes individuals more optimistic in their perception of object weight.

Pleasurable emotions and internalizing psychopathology: A multi-study examination of specificity and alternative explanations.

Past research has been inconclusive regarding the specificity of associations between discrete pleasurable emotions and internalizing symptoms. Contentment may be especially relevant to depression, whereas tranquillity may be especially relevant to worry. The goal of the current research was to clarify the mixed findings regarding the relation between pleasure deficits and internalizing psychopathology. Participants from three samples (Total N = 757) completed alternative measures of depression and pleasurable emotions. Participants in Study 1 also completed a measure of anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, and close peers to a subset of participants (N = 64) reported their perceptions of participants' depression severity. Participants in Studies 2 and 3 also completed a measure of worry. Across the three samples, contentment was significantly negatively associated with self-reported depression. This association could not be accounted for by tranquillity, cheerfulness, anticipatory pleasure, or consummatory pleasure. Contentment was also strongly negatively associated with peer-reported depression. Contentment was more strongly associated with depression than was cheerfulness. However, the strength of the association between contentment and depression relative to the strength of the association between tranquillity and depression depended on how contentment and depression were measured. Conversely, tranquillity was more strongly associated with worry than were contentment or cheerfulness. This study provides further evidence of the potential importance of the role of contentment in depression and tranquillity in worry. It may be useful to attend to contentment when assessing and treating depression and to attend to tranquillity when assessing and treating elevated worry.

“The Mysterious Disappearance”: assessment of a sustainability-themed virtual educational escape room in higher education

PurposeIn this study, we assessed the educational value and efficacy of a virtual educational escape room (VEER), called “The Mysterious Disappearance”, for training pre-service teachers.Design/methodology/approach“The Mysterious Disappearance” was developed ad hoc and contains various activities and puzzles focussing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The research will evaluate the design quality and satisfaction of 193 participants regarding the VEER, their perceptions of game-based learning (GBL) and analyse which soft skills are most used and which valence typology (positive/pleasant or negative/unpleasant emotions) has the greatest impact on players’ experience. Descriptive, exploratory factor and inferential analyses are employed.FindingsThe study indicates that the VEER is rated very positively by pre-service teachers. Overall satisfaction levels are high, and the resource and methodology are perceived as favourable. The design quality of the resource is also well rated, with participants perceiving it as a challenging but engaging and well-balanced. Participation in the VEER shows several benefits, especially in cognitive and motivational areas. The participants demonstrated high levels of soft skills utilisation. The resource elicits predominantly positive and pleasurable emotions. Finally, there is a positive perception towards GBL among pre-service teachers, both as students and future teachers.Originality/valueThis study employs a multivariate analysis, using a questionnaire comprising three scales. This study’s dual focus on participants’ perceptions, as current Students and Future teachers, provides insights into their potential role as designers/implementers. Findings contribute to the ongoing development of academic hypotheses, particularly by highlighting the increased motivation linked to VEER use and its positive impact on learning. Designed with the SDG framework, the game enhances teachers' engagement with the 2030 Agenda, supporting their professional development and promotes values related to sustainability. The VEER was developed ad hoc by one of the authors, and the study has potential implications for numerous fields and areas of research.

Social and emotional learning in the cerebellum.

The posterior cerebellum has a critical role in human social and emotional learning. Three systems and related neural networks support this cerebellar function: a biological action observation system as part of an extended sensorimotor integration network, a mentalizing system for understanding a person's mental and emotional state subserved by a mentalizing network, and a limbic network supporting core emotional (dis)pleasure and arousal processes. In this Review, I describe how these systems and networks support social and emotional learning via functional reciprocal connections initiating and terminating in the posterior cerebellum and cerebral neocortex. It is hypothesized that a major function of the posterior cerebellum is to identify and encode temporal sequences of events, which might help to fine-tune and automatize social and emotional learning. I discuss research using neuroimaging and non-invasive stimulation that provides converging evidence for this hypothesized function of cerebellar sequencing, but also other potential functional accounts of the posterior cerebellum's role in these social and emotional processes.

Coping with intensive training demands: a longitudinal investigation of the relationships between appraisal, emotion, coping effectiveness and engagement among elite fencers

ABSTRACT Training is, by essence, very challenging, both physically and mentally. The way athletes stay fully engaged in their intensive training programme and achieve their performance goals may depend on their capacity to deal effectively with such daily training demands. This study therefore aimed to further the understanding of the relationships between appraisal, emotion, coping effectiveness and engagement among elite fencers in relation to the demands of intensive training over the course of a competitive season. Twenty-three elite fencers (15 women, 8 men; age: 23.04 ± 3.54 years; fencing experience: 15.04 ± 3.74 years) completed an online questionnaire once a week, measuring perceived effort, perceived difficulty, pleasant and unpleasant emotions, athlete engagement, and coping effectiveness (i.e., 36 time-points). The results of the random coefficient regression models revealed the mediating role played by emotions in the dynamic relationships (a) between perceived difficulty and coping effectiveness (pleasant emotions: Sobel Test = −2.39, p < .05; unpleasant emotions: Sobel Test = −2.47, p < .05), and (b) between perceived effort and coping effectiveness (pleasant emotions: Sobel Test = 2.15, p < .05). Results also highlighted the partial mediating role played by coping effectiveness in the dynamic relationships (a) between perceived effort and engagement (Sobel Test = 2.27, p < .05), and (b) between perceived difficulty and engagement (Sobel Test = −2.16, p < .05). This study underlines the need to consider subjective appraisal during training over the course of a competitive season and its influence on psychological adaptation and engagement in intensive training settings.

Analgesic effect of dance movement therapy: An fNIRS study

ObjectiveThis study aims to explores the physiological and psychological mechanisms of exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) by combining the behavioral results with neuroimaging data on changes oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) in prefrontal cortex (PFC). MethodsA total of 97 healthy participants were recruited and randomly divided into three groups: a single dance movement therapy (DMT) group, a double DMT group, and control group. Evaluation indicators included the pressure pain threshold (PPT) test, the color-word stroop task (CWST) for wearing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and the self-assessment manikin (SAM). The testing time is before intervention, after intervention, and one hour of sit rest after intervention. Results1) Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that, there is a time * group effect on the PPT values of the three groups of participants at three time points. After 30 min of acute dance intervention, an increase in the PPT values of 10 test points occurred in the entire body of the participants in the experimental group with a significant difference than the control group. 2) In terms of fNIRS signals, bilateral DLPFC and left VLPFC channels were significantly activated in the experimental group. 3) DMT significantly awakened participants and brought about pleasant emotions, but cognitive improvement was insignificant. 4) Mediation effect analysis found that the change in HbO concentration in DLPFC may be a mediator in predicting the degree of improvement in pressure pain threshold through dance intervention (total effect β = 0.7140). ConclusionIn healthy adults, DMT can produce a diffuse EIH effect on improving pressure pain threshold, emotional experience but only showing an improvement trend in cognitive performance. Dance intervention significantly activates the left ventrolateral and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This study explores the central nervous system mechanism of EIH from a physiological and psychological perspective.

Longitudinal relationships between emotional processes and perceived performances among athletes: The moderating effect of emotional intelligence

ObjectivesBased on emotional intelligence (EI) theory and cognitive motivational relational theory of emotions, this study aimed to explore longitudinal relationships between the core constructs of the emotional process (appraisals, coping and emotions) and perceived performances during competition and to examine the moderating role of EI on these relationships. MethodsA total of 453 athletes (Mage= 20.6; 117 females and 336 males) from different sports and different competitive levels participated in the study. Appraisals, coping, emotions, and perceived performances were assessed after five competitions across the season and EI was assessed at the beginning of the competitive season. Hierarchical linear modelling analyses were conducted to: (a) Evaluate the mediational role of coping strategies on the appraisals – emotions relationships and on the appraisals – perceived performances relationships; (b) explore the mediational role of emotions on the appraisals – perceived performances relationships; and (c) test the moderating role of EI on these relationships. ResultsThe results showed that: (a) coping played a mediational role on the appraisals-emotions relationships; (b) emotions mediated the appraisals-perceived performances relationships; and (c) EI moderated the aforementioned relationships between the core constructs of emotional process and perceived performances. ConclusionsAs a whole, this study furthered knowledge about the ways the core emotional constructs are interrelated and impact perceived performances within competitive settings. Through coping strategies and cognitive appraisals, EI was associated with higher intensity of pleasant emotions and perceived performances. As an applied implication, we encourage sport psychologists and coaches to provide training programs aimed at enhancing EI.

How to Make Flower Borders Benefit Public Emotional Health in Urban Green Space: A Perspective of Color Characteristics

The emotional health benefits of urban green space have been widely recognized. Flower borders, as a perennial plant landscape, have gradually become a current form of plant application in urban green spaces due to their rich color configurations. However, the related research primarily focuses on the impact of urban green spaces on public health, with relatively little attention given to how the colors of flower borders affect public emotional health. This study explored the relationship between the flower borders color characteristics and the public emotional health. In this study, 24 sample images were used as experimental materials, which selected based on their color richness and harmony. Additionally, face recognition technology and online random questionnaires were utilized to measure the public basic emotions and pleasure, respectively. The result shows that, based on the HSV color model and expert recommendations, 19 color characteristics were identified. The correlation analysis of the results from the public emotion with these color characteristics revealed that 13 color characteristics correlated with public emotional pleasure. Among them, blue, neutral purple, and low saturation were positively correlated. Through factor analysis, these thirteen color characteristics were summarized and categorized into four common factors (F1–F4), three of which are related to color. They are “low saturation of blue-violet percentage” (F1), “color configuration diversity” (F2), “bright red percentage” (F3), and “base green percentage” (F4), with F1 having the largest variance explained (27.88%). Finally, an evaluation model of color characteristics was constructed based on the variance explained by these four factors, which was demonstrated to effectively predict the level of public emotional pleasure when viewing flower borders. The results shed light on the effects of color characteristics on public emotions and provide new perspectives for subsequent flower border evaluations. Our results provide a valuable reference for future flower border color design, aiming to better improve public emotional health.

Images of the auditor’s job and associated emotions: a dynamic analysis

This study aims to understand the images that undergraduates have of the job of auditor and the emotions accompanying those pictures. Auditing is a public interest profession focused on ensuring integrity and credibility of companies’ performance and position. First, we relied on personal visualizations expressed by the participants to analyze their images about the auditor’s job, and their changes. After that, we analyzed the emotions accompanying auditor job images, including positive emotions such as enjoyment and hope, and negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, and boredom. We also examined the evolution of the outcome by analyzing the emotions at two timepoints to capture changes in emotions accompanying the image of the auditor’s job after a session focused on the profession. The results reveal that most participants relied on traditional images, although the classical view decreased after the activity. The emotional perception of the job of auditor was mostly positive. The evidence also suggests less unpleasant emotions associated with a contemporary vision compared with a traditional view. Notably, unpleasant emotions decreased after auditing activity in both visions, and pleasant emotions increased. Study participants’ characteristics also delve into different profiles, considering emotions accompanying auditor job images. The current study combines a dynamic study of emotions and research on perceptions of the auditor’s job through personal images, which is an innovation and advancement in the auditing field owing to the importance of the affective side in critical thinking, behavior, and decision making. The findings of this study also emphasize the need that universities rethink the approach and information provided to students about the auditor’s job promoting collaboration between professional and academic worlds to improve not only perceptions about the profession but also the affective side.

In-Person and Online Studies Examining the Influence of Problem Solving on the Fading Affect Bias.

The fading affect bias (FAB) occurs in autobiographical memory when unpleasant emotions fade faster than pleasant emotions and the phenomenon appears to be a form of emotion regulation. As emotion regulation is positively related to problem solving, the current study examined FAB in the context of problem solving. In-person and online studies asked participants to provide basic demographics, describe their problem-solving abilities, and rate various healthy and unhealthy variables, including emotional intelligence and positive problem-solving attitudes. Participants also completed an autobiographical event memory form for which they recalled and described two pleasant and two unpleasant problem-solving and non-problem-solving events and rated the initial and current affect and rehearsals for those events. We found a robust FAB effect that was larger for problem-solving events than for non-problem-solving events in Study 1 but not in Study 2. We also found that FAB was positively related to healthy variables, such as grit, and negatively related to unhealthy variables, such as depression. Moreover, many of these negative relations were inverted at high levels of positive problem-solving attitudes, and these complex interactions were partially mediated by talking rehearsals and thinking rehearsals.

Backyard Activities as Sources of Social and Personal Well-Being: A Study of the Mexican Population (Guasave, Sinaloa)

Isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened daily tension, leading to stress and other illnesses. This research examined the impact of backyard activities on social and personal well-being, focusing on agricultural (gardens, vegetables, medicinal plants) and livestock activities (chickens, goats, sheep, cows). An exploratory study was conducted using a Likert-scale survey of 387 people, with 22 items covering economic growth, social well-being, and human development. The results showed that 50% of the respondents experienced pleasant emotions through sensory engagement with home gardens, leading to well-being, reduced anxiety and stress, better concentration, and improved family harmony. McDonald’s Omega (ω) value for item consistency was 0.964. Strong correlations were found between economic growth, social well-being, and human development with social and personal well-being, at 0.719, 0.819, and 0.812, respectively. These results are validated by an exploratory principal component factor analysis, which shows the correlation of the classes that integrate backyard activities on a principal axis. Backyard livestock activities had a lesser impact on personal and social well-being compared to agricultural activities, which were valued more for their economic and nutritional contributions. Thus, backyard activities, especially those involving home gardens, significantly enhance social and personal well-being alongside their economic and food benefits.

Political Variables Predicted the Fading Affect Bias More Strongly for Political Than Nonpolitical Events in the 2020 Presidential Election

ABSTRACTWinning and losing voters tend to experience positive and negative emotions toward elections, respectively. The emotions of autobiographical event memories fade over time with unpleasant emotions fading faster than pleasant emotions; this phenomenon is referred to as the fading affect bias (FAB). Although the FAB differs across several event types (e.g., social media and nonsocial media), the FAB and its relations to political, healthy (e.g., grit), and unhealthy variables (e.g., depression) did not differ significantly across political and nonpolitical events in the context of the 2016 US presidential election. To further explore these relations across political and nonpolitical events, the current study used two online samples (college students and MTurk) in the 2020 US presidential election context. The FAB was expected and found to be robust, it was positively predicted by rehearsal ratings, and its relations to political variables were stronger for political events than nonpolitical events.

Longitudinal trajectories of intensity and direction of emotions among athletes in sports competitions: do defense mechanisms matter?

ABSTRACT Objectives This study explored whether several subgroups of athletes representing distinct trajectories of intensity and direction of pleasant and unpleasant emotions (anger, anxiety, dejection, excitement, and happiness) could be shown to exist within the latent growth analysis (LCGA). A secondary objective was to examine whether athletes belonging to distinct trajectories of intensity and direction of emotions reported distinct scores of adaptive defense mechanisms (ADM) and maladaptive defense mechanisms (MDM). Design A longitudinal four-wave measurement design was used in the present study. Method 380 athletes completed the sports emotion questionnaire direction across four measurement times and the defense style questionnaire at the beginning of the season. Results Results of LCGAs revealed several distinct emotional trajectories for each emotion intensity and emotion direction. Moreover, athletes belonging to distinct (adaptive or maladaptive) trajectories reported significantly different scores of ADM and MDM. Higher scores of ADM were reported by athletes belonging to adaptive trajectories of the direction of emotions. Conclusions Sports psychologists should try to promote ADM and defensive flexibility to help athletes perceive their emotions as facilitative.

Modeling pedestrians' activity time-use choices in a virtual urban public space: The influences of the environment and affective experience

Understanding pedestrians' time-use choices for multiple activities in urban public spaces is crucial for developing diverse and inclusive public spaces. Few studies have explored how pedestrians' time-use choices are influenced by the physical environment when engaging in various micro-level activities in public spaces, nor have they captured the influence of experience-based factors (e.g., emotion and perceptions) triggered by varying environments, as well as heterogeneity between individuals. This study employs the multiple discrete-continuous extreme value (MDCEV) model to estimate the effects of public space environmental attributes, visit purpose, emotion, and perceptions on individuals' activity time-use choices using data collected in varying virtual hypothetical public spaces. A latent class MDCEV model incorporating personal variables is used to further examine individual heterogeneity. The results indicate that outdoor dining spaces and benches significantly promote outdoor activities. Emotional pleasure and arousal, as well as perceived legibility and liveness, significantly influence various activities in varying ways and to varying degrees. Differences in activity time-use choice patterns between two groups are revealed - one more emotionally driven and the other more cognitively driven. The results complement existing knowledge of pedestrians' activities and inform the planning and design decisions for positive human-environment interactions in urban public spaces.

The Prevalence of Self-Exploitation in Media Production: Analyzing the Impact of Technological and Societal Transformations

The development of science and technology and the changes of society have given a new look to traditional conceptual work. The developed network and ubiquitous communication have broken the time and space boundaries of work. Working from home has become a reality. Some people continue to predict that work will become a relaxed enjoyment. But the reality is frustrating. Not only did people not relax, but they also took on increasingly heavy work pressures. The boundaries between work and leisure are eliminated by heavy business, and the office is transformed into a place where people spend the most time. Therefore, work is no longer a pleasure, but self-exploitation behaviour. The unstable and unsafe nature of creative work in the media industry creates stress and anxiety, and the strong emotional pleasure associated with this kind of work exists. The tension between "pleasure" and "pain" in creative occupations has been fully proven. Unstable labour has now become a key feature of creative work. Creative occupations are driven by self-fulfilling desires and are places for exploitation and serious insecurity.

The Prevalence of Self-Exploitation in Media Production: Analyzing the Impact of Technological and Societal Transformations

The development of science and technology and the changes of society have given a new look to traditional conceptual work. The developed network and ubiquitous communication have broken the time and space boundaries of work. Working from home has become a reality. Some people continue to predict that work will become a relaxed enjoyment. But the reality is frustrating. Not only did people not relax, but they also took on increasingly heavy work pressures. The boundaries between work and leisure are eliminated by heavy business, and the office is transformed into a place where people spend the most time. Therefore, work is no longer a pleasure, but self-exploitation behaviour. The unstable and unsafe nature of creative work in the media industry creates stress and anxiety, and the strong emotional pleasure associated with this kind of work exists. The tension between "pleasure" and "pain" in creative occupations has been fully proven. Unstable labour has now become a key feature of creative work. Creative occupations are driven by self-fulfilling desires and are places for exploitation and serious insecurity.

A comprehensive study on factors influencing online impulse buying behavior: Evidence from Shopee video platform

The rapid expansion of online commerce has significantly altered consumer behavior, particularly among digitally-savvy Generation Z individuals. This research analyzes the influence of product presentation videos on online impulsive buying behaviors in this demographic, using the Shopee video platform as a case study. The study aims to investigate how various external factors, including time pressure (TP), quantity pressure (QP), economic benefits (EB), social influence (SI), visual (VS), and sound (SO), affect online impulse buying by mediating emotions of arousal (AR) and pleasure (PL). This study employed a quantitative approach, and data was collected through a Likert scale questionnaire using a non-probability sampling technique. PLS-SEM statistical analysis was utilized to assess the research model, exploring the interplay of these stimuli in shaping impulsive buying behavior on the Shopee platform, among 438 Vietnamese Generation Z. The study's results indicate significant impacts of all factors on arousal, while time pressure, quantity pressure, and economic benefits did not significantly influence pleasure. Notably, arousal and pleasure emerged as mediators shaping impulsive buying decisions among Generation Z. These findings indicate that strategic use of external factors can effectively trigger emotions, leading to impulsive buying among digital natives. This also offers valuable insights for marketers looking to enhance e-commerce strategies on platforms such as Shopee video. Marketers can trigger customers' impulsive buying by creating a sense of urgency (e.g. flash sales, limited quantities), useful online reviewing, and personalizing discounts. Additionally, using visual and sound strategies in a positive online experience can further enhance this behavior and shape preferences. This study's findings contribute to a deeper understanding of consumer behavior theories in the digital era, highlighting the intricate roles of arousal and pleasure in online impulse buying.

Linking pre-performance stress appraisals with emotions in sport

Although research has investigated how appraisals are linked with categories of emotions (e.g. pleasant and unpleasant emotions) in sport, research into how stress appraisal components are associated with specific discrete emotions commonly experienced in sport has received scant attention. This study examined how pre-performance stress appraisals were related to pre-performance anger, anxiety, dejection, excitement, and happiness. Athletes ( N = 458) completed measures of pre-performance stress appraisals and emotions in relation to their latest competitive performance. Path analyses revealed challenge appraisal was positively linked to pleasant emotions, and threat appraisal with unpleasant emotions. Specific emotions also possessed discrete links with appraisal components. For example, uncontrollable-by-anyone appraisal was positively linked with anger and dejection but inversely linked with anxiety. Moreover, controllable-by-others appraisal was positively associated, and controllable-by-self appraisal was negatively associated, with anxiety. Excitement and happiness were similarly related with appraisal components. However, controllable-by-self appraisal was positively and more strongly associated with excitement, whereas controllable-by-others appraisal was also positively and directly linked with happiness. These findings highlight how stress appraisals are linked with common emotions in sport and offer applied implications for coaches, sport psychologists and athletes regarding ways that could help regulate pre-performance emotions in sport.

Development and Preliminary Validation of the Unpleasant and Pleasant Emotion Regulation Assessment (UPER-A)

Abstract: The Unpleasant and Pleasant Emotion Regulation Assessment (UPER-A) is the first self-administered scale that provides indicators of how individuals use their repertoire of emotion regulation (ER) strategies for both unpleasant and pleasant emotions as well as the perceived efficacy in ER. The UPER-A consists of a total of 27 items and 4 open-ended questions, divided into three parts: unpleasant ER strategies (Part I), pleasant ER strategies (Part II), and perceived efficacy in ER (Part III). The aim of the present study was to develop and do a preliminary validation of the UPER-A. A sample of 513 French adults (mean age = 30.7 years old, SD = 12.3, range= 17–72 years old; 63.9% female) completed the tool. UPER-A is composed of a battery of tools for Part I (9 items) and Part II (8 items), and also 2 sub-factors for Part III, and provides several scores: average frequency of strategy use, availability, predominant use, predominant type, unused strategies, perceived efficacy. Validity indicators (internal consistency, convergent validity, divergent validity, concurrent validity, and test-retest reliability) are satisfactory. This new tool permits us to take into account emotion polyregulation and to improve clinical orientations concerning unpleasant and pleasant ER difficulties. Further studies are needed to extend the validation of the UPER-A, in clinical populations or adverse contexts for example.

The origins and development of aesthetics.

All people (and some other animals) have aesthetic responses to sensory stimulation, responses of emotional pleasure or displeasure. These emotions vary from one person and culture to another, yet they share a common mechanism. To survive, an adaptive animal (as opposed to a tropic animal) needs to become comfortable with normality and to have slight abnormalities draw attention to themselves. Walking through a jungle you need to notice a tiger from a single stripe: if you must wait to see the whole animal, you are unlikely to survive. In Homo sapiens, the brain's adaptive neurochemistry does this naturally, partly because the brain's neuronal networks are structured to react efficiently to fractal structures, structures that shape much of nature. In addition, previous associations may turn a slight variation from normal into feelings of either pleasure or danger. The details of these responses-what is normal and what variations feel like-will depend upon an individual's experience, but the mechanism is the same, no matter whether a person is tasting a wine, seeing a face or landscape, or hearing a song. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sensing and feeling: an integrative approach to sensory processing and emotional experience'.