Using multiple methods to more fully understand causal relations: Positive affect enhances social relationships

• Main Authors: MOORE, Shannon, DIENER, Ed, TAN, Kenneth
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2018
• Subjects: Positive affect; Subjective well-being; Relationships; Relationship quality; Developmental Psychology; Social Psychology and Interaction
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2838; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/4095/viewcontent/Using_Multiple_Methods_to_More_Fully_Understand_Causal_Relations__Positive_Affect_Enhances_Social_Relationships.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

We review research indicating that higher levels of positive affect help produce better social relationships for that person and those around him or her. By better relationships we mean those that are experienced as more pleasant and less aversive, are closer and more supportive, and are long-lasting. We review longitudinal, experimental, experience-sampling, cross-cultural, and other types of evidence that suggest that not only do good relationships produce positive affect, but that positive affect can lead to them as well. We also focus on the mediators that create the association going from positive affect to sociability and high-quality relationships. Finally, we review the unknowns in this area and the types of future research still needed.