Joy - Psychology of Joy

 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).

 

In the SCOPES model, Joy as a state is a component in the Emotional (E) dimension of human functioning. As a disposition, joy aspects of joy include cognition (C), emotion (E), and Observable behavior patterns (O). 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.

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Key Differences Between Joy and Happiness

You might wonder how joy and happiness are alike or different. Following is one potential way to distinguish between the two concepts.

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

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Measures of Joy- Click below for links to the scales

State Joy Scale

Dispositional Joy Scale

Post Author

Geoffrey W. Sutton, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Evangel University, holds a master’s degree in counseling and a PhD in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His postdoctoral work encompassed education and supervision in forensic and neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. As a licensed psychologist, he conducted clinical and neuropsychological evaluations and provided psychotherapy for patients in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and private offices. During his tenure as a professor, Dr. Sutton taught courses on psychotherapy, assessment, and research. He has authored over one hundred publications, including books, book chapters, and articles in peer-reviewed psychology journals. His website is https://suttong.com You can find Dr. Sutton's books on   AMAZON    and  GOOGLE. Many publications are free to download at ResearchGate   and Academia  

 

 References

Sutton, G. W. (2021). Creating surveys: Second Edition| How to create and administer surveys, evaluate workshops & seminars, interpret and present results. Springfield, MO: Sunflower.   AMAZON   Paperback ISBN-13:  9798712780327     website

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