Abstract
M.A. (Counselling Psychology)
Gray proposed two psycho-neurobiological systems, namely the behavioural approach system (BAS) and the behavioural inhibition system (BIS) which are respectively related to positive affectivity and negative affectivity. The literature does not currently indicate any specific positive emotional traits related to the BAS scale with certainty, although happiness, elation and hope have been suggested as possibilities.
Curiosity, empathy and hope were chosen as positive emotional traits to study in relation to the BAS, as these positive emotional traits can each be related to the three factors of the BAS, namely drive, fun seeking and reward responsiveness. Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory explains that each emotion evokes a thought-action tendency and when positive emotions are experienced, the types of possible behavioural responses are broadened. It is expected that this broadened response repertoire should be detected in the behavioural approach system, which is responsible for organising behaviour in response to stimuli that signal rewards or no punishment. Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory is thus a useful framework to utilise in the conceptualisation of the study. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which curiosity, empathy and hope act as predictors for the variance in the BAS.
The sample consisted of 130 first year mathematics students at the University of Johannesburg. Psychometric instruments utilised for the study included Carver and White’s BIS/BAS scales, the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory (CEI), the short form of the Empathy Quotient (EQ-short) and the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale. A standard multiple regression was conducted to investigate the nature of the relationships between the BAS and curiosity, empathy and hope.
The results indicate the total variance in the BAS levels explained by curiosity, empathy and hope simultaneously was 16.8 percent. Hope made the largest unique contribution by accounting for 6.8 percent of the variance in the total BAS scores while curiosity also made a statistically significant contribution by accounting for 3.2 percent of the variance in the total BAS scores. Empathy did not make a statistically significant unique contribution to the variance in the total BAS scores.
Future studies of this nature should consider a larger sample size. The prefrontal cortex was identified as a neural counterpart that might be related to Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, but future research could explore this further.