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Does Feeling Happy Contributes to Flexible Thinking: Exploring the Association Between Positive Emotions and Cognitive Flexibility

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Abstract

This study examined the association between positive emotions and cognitive flexibility. The study comprises of two experiments which examine the influence of positive/neutral writing and watching positive movie (methods of emotion induction) on cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility was observed on a shape detection task. The results do not lend support to the association between positive emotions and cognitive flexibility. The results are discussed in light of the existing literature and issues for further research are indicated.

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  1. Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India, 721302

    Papri Nath & Rabindra Kumar Pradhan

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  1. Papri Nath
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  2. Rabindra Kumar Pradhan
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Correspondence to Rabindra Kumar Pradhan.

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Nath, P., Pradhan, R.K. Does Feeling Happy Contributes to Flexible Thinking: Exploring the Association Between Positive Emotions and Cognitive Flexibility. Psychol Stud 59, 180–190 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-014-0241-2

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