Barbara L. Fredrickson

Barbara L. Fredrickson serves as Kenan Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, directing both the Social Psychology Doctoral Program and the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory. She also holds a Faculty Affiliate position at the Center for Positive Organizations.

Her pioneering research established the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, demonstrating how fleeting positive states foster resilience, well-being, and physiological health. Current investigations examine socioecological influences on shared positive emotions (positivity resonance), connections between co-experienced emotions and health outcomes, and applications for conflict resolution and stereotype reduction through positive affective processes.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Tang Prize for Achievements in Psychology (2017)

She ranks among the top 0.01% of scientists globally for career-long scholarly impact across 22 scientific fields.

Dr. Fredrickson actively mentors graduate students including Catherine Berman (studying positive affect's influence on health behaviors and inequality policies), Michael Prinzing (exploring lay conceptions of the good life and sense of mattering), Taylor West (analyzing socioecological impacts on shared emotions with strangers), and Jieni Zhou (investigating positivity resonance in relationships). Research staff like Project Coordinator Catherine Garton examine humility development in disagreements and positivity resonance's conflict resolution effects.

She leads the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory, which integrates physiological measurement with social psychology to study how positive emotions build resources for navigating social turbulence and sustaining well-being through connection.