Joy is a positive emotion and a disposition.
 |
| JUMP FOR JOY 2025 Geoffrey W Sutton, AI |
Watkins and his colleagues summarized their review of Joy in 2017 as follows:
Summarizing the important theoretical proposals of the appraisal structure of joy, we have seen that joy results from construals of: an intentional good object that is ‘unowed’, something that one has been longing for, something that indicates we have been blessed or favored, something that indicates a turning of fortune, and that life is working out well and that life is being well lived. (Page 3).
Active and Passive Joy
The American Psychological Association summarizes two dimensions of the feeling of joy, which may be elaborated as follows:
1. Passive joy - a deep feeling of contentment with the way things are; a sense of wellbeing
2. Active joy - a strong and enthusiastic feeling, which includes the desire to share or express one's feelings openly.
Research suggests joy is linked to
Increased energy
Increased feelings of self-confidence
Increased self-esteem
Higher life-satisfaction
A Few Studies
Recent research has revealed that joy often emerges from unexpected sources rather than direct pursuit. Although joy was not the focus of The World Happiness Report (2024), the findings suggest that individuals who faced and processed adversity reported significantly higher life satisfaction, suggesting that resilience built through suffering enhances joy. Complementing this, Zerwas et al. (2024) demonstrated that actively tracking happiness paradoxically reduces well-being, highlighting the “happiness trap” suggesting joy is better cultivated through meaning than constant measurement. Meanwhile, neuroscience and psychology studies emphasize intentional practices: Tiwari (2025) noted that play, resilience-building through discomfort, and moments of quiet all foster neurobiological conditions for joy, such as reduced cortisol and enhanced hippocampal growth. Together we see the close connection between happiness and joy suggesting that when studying joy, we should look at happiness research as well. In addition, we see the network of cognition, emotion, behavior, physiology, and social context woven together into a construction of the complex we label as joy but others may simply label the complex as a high state of happiness.
In the SCOPES model, Joy as a state is a component in the Emotional (E) dimension of human functioning. Aspects of joy include cognition (C), emotion (E), and Observable behavior patterns (O) along with a physical substrate (P) and situated in a social context (S). See Sutton (2021).
Like other variables such as anger and forgiveness, joy may be considered as either a mood / emotional state or a disposition / personality trait.
__________
Key Differences Between Joy and Happiness
| Aspect | Joy | Happiness |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Internal—linked to meaning, values, and relationships | External—dependent on circumstances, achievements, or material gains |
| Duration | More enduring and resilient | Often fleeting and situational |
| Emotional Depth | Complex—can coexist with sorrow, gratitude, or awe | Simpler—typically associated with pleasure or contentment |
| Examples | Raising a child, spiritual fulfillment, deep connection | Winning a prize, eating a favorite meal, receiving praise |
| Psychological Role | Promotes resilience, purpose, and existential affirmation | Encourages short-term well-being and satisfaction |
__________
Measures of Joy- Click below for links to the scales
Post Author
References and Links
American Psychological Association link: https://dictionary.apa.org/joy
Watkins, P.C., Emmons, R. A., Greaves, M. R. & Bell,
J. (2018) Joy is a distinct positive emotion: Assessment of joy and
relationship to gratitude and well-being, The Journal of Positive
Psychology, 13:5, 522-539, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2017.1414298
Comments