Positive emotions speed recovery from the cardiovascular sequelae of negative emotions.
Cognition and Emotion . Abstract Two studies tested the hypothesis that certain positive emotions speed recovery from the cardiovascular sequelae of negative emotions. Compared to Ss who viewed the neutral and sad secondary films, those who viewed the positive films exhibited more rapid returns to pre-film levels of cardiovascular activation. Fifty Ss spontaneously smiled at least once while viewing this film. Compared to Ss who did not smile, those who smiled exhibited more rapid returns to pre-film levels of cardiovascular activation.