140: Positive Relationships with Sara Algoe

Today I’m delighted to have Sara Algoe on the podcast. Dr. Algoe is associate professor of social psychology at the University of Virginia. Her expertise spans emotions, relationships, and health psychology. Her basic research questions illuminate the social interactions that are at the heart of high-quality relationships. These include giving to others, expressing gratitude, and sharing laughter.

In this episode we discuss:

• The main components of “positive interpersonal processes”
• The effect of gratitude on the other person in relationships
• The importance of context in positive psychology
• How positive and negative emotions can co-exist simultaneously
• The “find, remind, and bind” theory of gratitude
• The importance of gratitude in everyday life
• “Meta” positive emotions
• The essentials vs. luxuries of well-being
• The validity of gratitude interventions
• “Gratitude burnout”
• Appreciation vs. gratitude
• The need for evil to define the light