Art possesses the ability to evoke positive emotions. People have long used arts to make sense of their emotions, articulate feelings, self-regulate, and bond emotionally.
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January 2025
HUMANITIES AND HUMAN FLOURISHING NEWSLETTER
Advancing the understanding, assessment, and cultivation of well-being by means of a deep and sustained collaboration between the arts, humanities, and social sciences
Positive Emotion in the Arts: How Arts Make Us Happier
As those of us who engage in and find enjoyment in art know, there is something about immersing yourself in a day at the art museum or spending a rainy afternoon at a coffee shop reading a novel that just feels…good. Whether it’s the appreciation of beauty, feeling awe or inspiration, cultivating a sense of connection to your history and humanity, or simply the joy of being captivated by another world, the arts can uniquely spark positive emotions in us. According to research, positive emotions like awe, gratitude, and inspiration are considered an integral part of flourishing. Positive emotion is the first component of Martin Seligman’s PERMA model of well-being (followed by engagement, relationship, meaning, and accomplishment). Interestingly, arts engagement on a regular basis leads to the cultivation of positive emotion.
Art possesses the ability to evoke positive emotions that extend beyond laughter-inducing humor. For example, music exudes uplifting effects on mood, contributes to emotion regulation by facilitating distraction, introspection, and active coping, as well as promoting relaxation, a sense of identity, belonging, and agency. In fact, studies have found music promptly evokes emotions through various mechanisms, including alignment of the body with the rhythm through neural activity, “chills”, and heart rate, inner imagery, memory and a sense of reward from fulfilled expectations about a musical piece. Choir singing and group creative writing increased positive emotion during the activity in adults with and without mental health problems. Specifically, participants reported feeling pride, pleasure, happiness, and emotional support from succeeding in the activity and from interacting with others.
From Beatlemania to Space Odyssey, people have used the arts to make sense of their emotions, articulate their spirituality, self-regulate, and bond with others. Current research indicates that it can even be effective to tailor art engagement based on emotional need. For instance, art-making might be used for short-term mood enhancement by providing distraction and venting. Content, too, seems to matter: research has shown that using art-making to vent negative emotions by painting scenes associated with sadness is less effective than using art-making to turn to positive emotions by painting scenes associated with happiness; thus, those engaging with the arts for mood-enhancing or therapeutic purposes might choose to engage with positively-oriented art-making. While the research on the arts and positive emotions is certainly promising, what matters is that you experience positive emotion from your arts engagement, whatever it may be.
Recall a moment when you experienced positive emotions when interacting with art. Perhaps it was a cozy feeling of warmth when listening to a song from your childhood or a sense of awe when looking at a Jasper Johns painting. What kind of positive emotions did you experienced in that moment? What do you think caused you to have those emotions? Do you ever revisit that artwork with the intention of catalyzing a similar feeling again?
Positive Emotions and the Arts in Research
HHF’s very own Katherine Cotter and colleagues explored the emotional patterns experienced by art museum visitors when viewing pieces in a museums’ collections. They found that visitors experienced a range of emotions, including positive emotions, negative emotions and confusion, aesthetic emotions, interest and surprise, and highly negative emotions such as anger. Visitors who experienced positive emotions felt most satisfied with their visit and most welcome within the museum, and showed the least psychological distress.
Positive Emotions and the Arts in Practice
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG), a beloved landmark in the City of Brotherly Love, inspires creativity and community engagement by educating the public about folk, mosaic, and visionary art. Spotlighting the work of PMG’s creator, Isaiah Zagar, it believes in the inspiration of others, centers community and belonging, and brings a celebratory attitude to its exhibits and programs.
HHF News
In collaboration with the New York Public Library, HHF’s Director James O. Pawelski and Associate Director of Research Katherine N. Cotter co-authored a white paper, Libraries and Well-being. Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman, Director of Penn’s Positive Psychology Center, lauded the value of these institutions, saying, “Public libraries—those enduring and adaptive positive institutions— provide us with information, inspiration, and connection for staying resilient in adversity and for imagining and creating more fulfilling lives and thriving communities. This report helps us see and relate to libraries as important resources for, and centers of, flourishing.” Read the report here.
Upcoming Events
We are delighted to continue our third season of In Conversation, part of the HHF colloquium series. In Conversation brings scientists and practitioners into dialogue to discuss their work in the arts, culture, and well-being. In Spring 2025, we will hear from innovators working in research institutions and cultural organizations on how engagement in the arts can promote well-being in individuals and communities. We welcome you to join us for these virtual events and to take part in these important exchanges.
- Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 10:00 to 11:30am EST - Roksana Filipowska (Keen Independent Research & Barnes Foundation) and Hannah Weinberg-Wolf (UX Researcher & Yale University Alumna) will be discussing “Being Present with Art,” a method of integrating mindfulness-based stress reduction meditation with interactive art-based group encounters to foster belonging. More information and registration are available here.
Couldn't make it to one of our past colloquia? Check out the recording on our HHF YouTube Channel.
This newsletter was created by Alina Spas, Katherine Cotter, Sarah Sidoti, and James Pawelski.
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