Jennifer Stellar

IN A NUTSHELL:

Positive psychology researcher Jennifer Stellar illuminates how truly awe-inspiring experiences may mean more than we realize for our physical and mental health.

ABOUT JENNIFER:

Jennifer Stellar studies the pro-social and healing effects of positive emotions such as compassion, happiness, joy, and awe. She received her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto. In her research, she examines whether positive emotions elicit reliable physiological changes and how these emotions impact immunity, stress, and overall physical and mental health. Her paper on the anti-inflammatory effects of awe has generated substantial media interest.

LEARN MORE:

Awe: For Altruism and Health?
Keltner D. Slate. 2015.

Experiences Of Art, Nature And Spirituality May Help Prevent Disease, Study Finds
Gregoire C. Huffington Post. 2015.

Measuring Compassion in the Body
Simon-Thomas, ER. Greater Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life. 2015.

Got Money? Then You Might Lack Compassion
Kluger, J. TIME. 2011.

All About Awe
Mikulak, A. Association for Psychological Science. Observer. 2015;28(4).

REFERENCES:

Positive affect and markers of inflammation: Discrete positive emotions predict lower levels of inflammatory cytokines.
Stellar JE, John-Henderson N, Anderson CL, Gordon AM, McNeil GD, Keltner D. Emotion. 2015;15(2):129-133.

Positivity: Top-notch research reveals the 3 to 1 ratio that will change your life.
Frederickson BL. New York: Three Rivers Press. 2009. 

Questions in the School
Havigerova JM, Haviger J. World academy of science, engineering and technology. 2012;55:449-452.