Why most people have positive affect balance (more positive affect than negative affect) most of the time?
First variant of the answer to this question: people have positive affect balance because most of the people have more successes than failures, more «income» than «expenses» most of the time (positive affect balance is a function of good performance).
Second variant of the answer to this question: people have positive affect balance because good performance is a function of positive affect balance (humans were selected for positivity offset in their evolutionary past, and positivity offset determines positive affect balance, which determines good performance).
A) Which answer do you like more? First__; Second__.
B) Which version of the answer is more relevant as a base for the research the problem today, in your opinion? First__; Second__.
C) What dependence is stronger, in your opinion: 1) performance as a function of affect balance or 2) affect balance as a function of performance? 1) __; 2) __.
D) Your comment: ……………….
I would argue for B. I think that Ed Dieners publications will give you lots of explanations why subjective well-being (and this includes positive affective ballance) leads to good events, and how good events translate into well-being. I cannot give you any specific reference now, but you will surely find relevant information if you scrutinize the list: https://scholar.google.pl/citations?hl=pl&user=_xR5tL8AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate Good luck with your research!
Dear Łukasz,
Just known theoretical explanations by Diner et al.*, opposite my own explanation**, had prompted me to raise this issue with two proposed answers.
Best regards.
*https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266152721_Why_People_Are_in_a_Generally_Good_Mood
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/246872786_Most_People_Are_Happy
** https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279960976_On_the_dependence_of_hope_and_hopelessness_on_a_level_of_performance
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279960666_Informational_and_energetic_models_of_influence_of_activity_results_on_emotions
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279960870_An_investigation_of_the_influence_of_informational_and_energetic_activity_factors_on_emotions
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280131592_Sprawnociowa_dynamika_dobrostanu_emocjonalnego_jednostki_modalna_strefa_funkcjonowania
Модальная зона активности: к проблеме зависимости эмоций от успешности деятельности (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279973812__________)
Деятельностная динамика основных измерений эмоций: модель и литературные данные (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279976304_________)
Article Most People Are Happy
Article Why People Are in a Generally Good Mood
Conference Paper “Informational” and “energetic” models of influence of activ...
Conference Paper An investigation of the influence of" informational" and" en...
Conference Paper On the dependence of hope and hopelessness on a level of performance
Article Модальная зона активности: к проблеме зависимости эмоций от ...
Article Деятельностная динамика основных измерений эмоций: модель и ...
Article Sprawnościowa dynamika dobrostanu emocjonalnego jednostki: m...
A third answer: When conditions lead to loss of positive affect, we alter the conditions or depart for better ones, when we can. When we cannot, some of us learn to think differently about the conditions and our outcomes so that positive affect is no longer diminished by them.
Dear Caroline,
You're right, although I see your reply is not as a "third answer ", but as relevant to the my first answer (positive affect balance is a function of good performance): when conditions lead to loss of positive affect, we’re changing the conditions to ensure good performance, which determines positive affect balance.
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