2004/08/01 by Shelly L. Gable, Harry T. Reis, Emily A. Impett +1 · 1,282 citations
Psychology · Arts and Humanities · #Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction #Media Influence and Health #Attachment and Relationship Dynamics #Intrapersonal communication #Psychology #Interpersonal communication #Social psychology #Capitalization #Interpersonal relationship #Affect (linguistics) #Well-being #Psychotherapist
paper · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.87.2.228
published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 87(2), 228-245 (American Psychological Association)
openalex publication_date 2004/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Four studies examined the intrapersonal and interpersonal consequences of seeking out others when good things happen (i.e., capitalization). Two studies showed that communicating personal positive events with others was associated with increased daily positive affect and well-being, above and beyond the impact of the positive event itself and other daily events. Moreover, when others were perceived to respond actively and constructively (and not passively or destructively) to capitalization attempts, the benefits were further enhanced. Two studies found that close relationships in which one's partner typically responds to capitalization attempts enthusiastically were associated with higher relationship well-being (e.g., intimacy, daily marital satisfaction). The results are discussed in terms of the theoretical and empirical importance of understanding how people "cope" with positive events, cultivate positive emotions, and enhance social bonds.