Stimulating and Enhancing Student Learning Through Positive Emotions

Research has demonstrated that the frequent experience of positive emotions can help in fostering subjective well-being. This research investigates how the experience of positive emotions by students in the classroom environment can stimulate and enhance learning behaviors. Findings indicate that the experience of positive emotions in the classroom is positively related to student motivation as well as behaviors that are likely to lead to academic success, such as studying, attending class, participating in classroom discussions, and performing additional activities outside of class to enhance understanding. Individuals who expressed these higher motivational levels also had more optimistic academic achievement outlooks. Additionally, results suggest that the experience of positive emotions is negatively related to emotional exhaustion. Implications for hospitality and business educators are discussed.