Human emotions are very complex and are present throughout our lives. One of them is joy, a primary emotion that has to do with enjoyment, satisfaction and happiness in achieving one of our desires. For this reason, human beings seek to achieve joy in all their actions, but few stop to reflect on it.
For many, joy is a momentary sensation that rarely leaves lasting marks on their mood, but science says otherwise. Furthermore, it is a central human experience. Therefore, in this Psychology-online article, we will explain in detail what is joy in psychologywhat benefits it has and how it differs from happiness.
What is joy according to psychology
According to psychology, joy can be defined as a pleasant sensation experienced at a certain moment. It can also be described as the state of mind associated with happiness, pleasure and well-being. Etymologically it derives from the Latin “alacer”, which translates as lively and lively, so joy is related to energy and good emotional vibrations.
In , joy is one of the five fundamental pillars of subjective well-being. Therefore, it is associated with enthusiasm and excitement, which is why it is connected with a strong feeling of well-being and progress.
Coupled with that, taking as reference the concept of the APA Dictionary of Psychology, we can say that joy according to psychology is a feeling of extreme delight and exaltation that comes from a feeling of well-being. Likewise, the feeling of joy can be of two types:
- active joy: we want to share our pleasure with others.
- Passive joy: It is a more personal and intimate emotion that we enjoy individually.
What causes joy?
Joy can be caused by people, objects or situations. For example, children experience joy when seeing their parents and friends, but also when they are given a new toy or go to their favorite park to spend the afternoon.
In short, for joy to exist there must be an external stimulus or a pleasant memory that activates neurotransmitters that release certain hormones related to significant emotions.
Benefits of joy
When experiencing joy, the body releases different hormones, such as and , which are active neurotransmitters in the brain. Therefore, the benefits of joy in psychology are many. We will describe them below:
- Increase confidence and raise self-esteem levelssince we have a better opinion of ourselves.
- Promotes physical energy and reduces stress levels.
- Fight anxiety and depression: When a person is in a state of depression, they have low levels of oxytocin and serotonin, making it difficult for them to experience joy.
- Allows you to make clearer decisions and improves performance in activities.
- Reduces negative thoughts and allows you to give a positive approach to different situations.
- Regulates social interaction and encourages.
- Improves sleep and helps you rest better at night.
- Modify the body’s immune response: helps control some hormones, such as cortisol, that are capable of altering health.
- Helps relax: When we feel happy, oxytocin is released, a hormone associated with calm and relaxation.
In short, the benefits of joy are not only mental, but also physical. In fact, a balanced state of mind is especially important for people recovering from cancer, traumatic brain injuries, or high cholesterol. Besides, a person with joy spreads that state of good humor and happiness to others.
What is the difference between joy and happiness
Do you want to know if there is any difference between happiness and joy? Although happiness and joy are often confused as synonyms or the same concepts, the truth is that they have a big difference from each other.
To begin with, happiness is a state that accompanies a certain process from beginning to end, while joy is associated with a particular moment. Therefore, experiencing joy expresses joy and is usually a fleeting emotion. Nevertheless, happiness is usually more lasting and there is not so much demonstration of exaltation.
For example, when we are given a present, we feel joy, but when we achieve an academic or professional achievement we experience happiness, a sensation that lasts over time. Furthermore, joy does not always come from oneself, since it can derive from external factors.
However, happiness has to do with the pleasure of the inner “I”. Therefore, it is something intrinsic and very personal that depends on each person’s scale of values. Definitely, joy is defined as a momentary emotion, but happiness is enduring and to achieve it it is necessary to experience joy. If you are interested in knowing more, in this article, we will tell you.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
- American Psychological Association official website: https://dictionary.apa.org/joy
Bibliography
- Allport, G. (1961). Personality psychology. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Paidós.
- Chris M. Meadows (2012). A psychological perspective on joy and emotional fulfillment. ISBN 9780415841238
- King, P.E., and Defoy, F. (2020). Joy as a virtue: the means and ends of joy. Journal of Psychology and Theology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091647120907994