Although theorists have proposed the existence of multiple distinct
varieties of positive emotion, dispositional positive affect is
typically treated as a unidimensional variable in personality
research. We present data elaborating conceptual and empirical
differences among seven positive emotion dispositions in their
relationships with two core personality constructs, the ‘‘Big
Five’’ and adult attachment style. We found that the positive
emotion dispositions were differentially associated with self- and
peer-rated Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Openness
to Experience, and Neuroticism. We also found that different adult
attachment styles were associated with different kinds of emotional
rewards. Findings support the theoretical utility of
differentiating among several dispositional positive emotion
constructs in personality research.
