ABSTRACT
Emotions can be seen as positive and negative, but it is more useful to view them as activating and deactivating. This chapter presents the hypothesis that positive emotions help towards the achievement of academic goals by expanding our thought processes and allowing us to invest in psychological capital. Negative emotions, on the other hand, restrict these options, leading us into either–or situations. The chapter presents another hypothesis that positive emotions lead to higher levels of academic achievement. Happy classrooms don't necessarily result in better academic outcomes. Emotions such as anxiety can both activate and deactivate and recognising both the negative and positive consequences of these emotions can enhance learning in the long term. The chapter suggests that severe negative emotions such as chronic anxiety and depression do negatively impact on both wellbeing and academic achievement. Learning is without doubt influenced by emotions just as all human behaviour is influenced by our emotional states.
