Dr. Barbara Fredrickson

Professor Barbara Fredrickson is a pioneering researcher in the science of positive emotions and one of the most influential scholars in modern positive psychology. She serves as the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is the Principal Investigator of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab. Her work spans social psychology, affective science, and human flourishing, with a focus on how positive emotions broaden awareness, build resilience, and contribute to well-being—a framework widely known as the broaden-and-build theory.

Dr. Fredrickson’s research has been supported by major grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Templeton Prize in Positive Psychology from the American Psychological Association. Her scholarship is highly cited, and she is a sought-after keynote speaker at conferences and institutions around the world.

In addition to her academic contributions, Fredrickson is a leading voice in translating science for broader audiences. Her bestselling book, "Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become," explores the transformative power of micro-moments of connection and has helped shape public understanding of love as a dynamic, biological process. She has also contributed extensively to research on well-being interventions, including studies on meditation, resilience, and the physiological underpinnings of positive emotional states.

Through her research, teaching, and writing, Dr. Fredrickson continues to shape how scientists and practitioners understand the vital role of positive emotions in human health and flourishing.