Research on malevolent creativity has rarely linked the generation of harmful ideas with their implementation (i.e., malevolent innovation). To explain why people might act upon their malevolently creative ideas, we drew on affective events theory. Specifically, given evidence that aggressive and creative thought events can elicit positive…

This study examined the heterogeneity in temporal shifts of unrealistic optimism (UO) by analyzing students' grade expectation throughout a semester. UO was defined as the gap between students' estimated and current course grades, with a larger gap indicating higher UO. Final course grades were viewed as the outcome of UO. A total of 206…

Topics in death and dying education classes can be troubling for students, some of whom may have enrolled in such classes in order to seek help. This paper contains recommendations regarding happiness-related exercises that could be employed when teaching death and dying classes from a communications perspective in general education programs. At…

In this article, I leverage the sociological insights of Randall Collins to examine contemporary accounts of "fun teaching" in teacher education: the pervasive mood of "fun," "energy," and "enthusiasm" in North American education faculties and popular teacher professional development literature. Focusing on…

Teacher enthusiasm is known to affect students' learning in traditional classroom environments, but it is unclear how displayed teacher enthusiasm can optimize learning of chemistry procedural knowledge in multimedia learning environments. In this context, the present study used eye-tracking technology and quantitative analysis to examine how…

The rapid detection and resolution of conflict between opposing action tendencies is crucial for our ability to engage in goal-directed behavior. Research in adults suggests that emotions can serve as a "relevance detector" that alarms attentional and sensory systems, thereby leading to more efficient conflict processing. In contrast,…

Being happy both at home and at work means we are not just cheerier, but more clear-eyed and effective at what we do. But happiness takes practice and ongoing contemplation. In this inventive new book--part professional development resource, part personal journal--educator, author, and podcaster Suzanne Dailey contends that "small shifts…

Adventure education (AE) has long been celebrated for its unique contributions to learning and personal growth. But the benefits of the AE experience may be broader than these outcomes and we are best positioned to uncover these benefits through employing new lenses in our analysis of AE. A qualitative study of the AE experience was completed at…

In recent decades, researchers' interest in the role of emotions in individual political learning has grown. However, it is still unclear whether and how discrete emotions are associated with political learning. Through a cross-disciplinary systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis, we reviewed which discrete emotions have been analyzed in…

This study investigates the role of Positive Affect as a predictor of Psychological Well-Being in 43,653 12-year-old children from 29 countries, using a Structural Equation Model. The model's potential gender and nationality equivalences were also examined. Data was sourced from the International Child Well-Being Survey. The 'happy' item was found…

Background/purpose: Students' emotional condition plays a crucial role in forming enjoyable learning in geography. One way to modify students' emotions is through field trips to sites with diverse geographical aspects. This study aims to identify potential wetland field trip locations for geography learning in higher education and assess students'…

Loneliness has recently been defined as a public health problem, and college students from various cultures are considered a vulnerable group. As college students must cope with new personal, social, and academic challenges, their perceptions regarding their entitlement from their environment, and their gratefulness for the assistance they…

While interest in career optimism has grown steadily in the last 15 years, most of its investigations rely on cross-sectional convenience samples that prevent exploring how earlier optimism matters for later educational and vocational outcomes. To address this issue, I use structural equation modelling to assess measurement invariance and the…

Positive psychology is a valuable framework for understanding teacher candidates' mental health perceptions. In the current study, we examined how the presence of meaning in life, search for purpose in life, psychological grit, and hope influenced teacher candidates' subjective happiness and depressive symptoms in a Hispanic Serving Institution.…

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for university administrators and health professionals to keep doors open and students safe. Optimistic bias and the Health Belief Model serve as foundations for understanding students' perceived susceptibility and severity for contracting the virus and their perceived benefits…