Subcategories of positive emotion

Abstract

Positive emotions are indispensable in our lives. However, their structure has not yet been clarified, and the majority of previous studies have simply assumed a single category of positive emotions. Several recent psychological and neuroscientific findings suggest the existence of subcategories of positive emotion. Similarly, the psychological functions of positive emotions can be more deeply understood when they are subcategorized. We conclude that subcategorizing positive emotions is a promising avenue for future research on emotion.