POSITIVE EMOTIONS SPEED RECOVERY FROM THE CARDIOVASCULAR SEQUELAE OF NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

Two studies tested the hypothesis that certain positive emotions speed recovery from the cardiovascular sequelae of negative emotions. In St udy 1, 60 subjects (Ss) viewed an initial fear-eliciting film, and wer e randomly assigned to view a secondary him that elicited: (a) content ment; (b) amusement; (c) neutrality; or (d) sadness. Compared to Ss wh o viewed the neutral and sad secondary films, those who viewed the pos itive films exhibited more rapid returns to pre-film levels of cardiov ascular activation. In Study 2, 72 Ss viewed a film known to elicit sa dness. Fifty Ss spontaneously smiled at least once while viewing this film. Compared to Ss who did not smile, those who smiled exhibited mor e rapid returns to pre-film levels of cardiovascular activation. We di scuss these findings in terms of emotion theory and possible health-pr omoting functions of positive emotions.