Psychology researcher argues enthusiasm is its own emotion
Leiden University PhD researcher Rijn Vogelaar says enthusiasm is distinct from joy and hope, with its own role in energy, action and social connection.
By Tom Brennan · Health & Medicine Correspondent
2 min read
Enthusiasm deserves a clearer place in psychology, according to doctoral research by Leiden University PhD researcher Rijn Vogelaar. His dissertation argues that enthusiasm is a distinct emotion that can energize people, prompt action and encourage social connection.
Leiden University said Vogelaar’s work examines enthusiasm as more than a loose description for being pleased or excited. The research frames it as an emotion with its own structure, function and social rules, according to the university.
The dissertation, titled “Understanding enthusiasm: structure, function, and social regulation”, looks at how enthusiasm differs from emotions that may seem closely related. Leiden University said the work places enthusiasm alongside better-studied emotions such as joy and hope, while arguing that it should not be treated as interchangeable with them.
How enthusiasm differs from joy and hope
Vogelaar’s research draws a line between enthusiasm, joy and hope, according to Leiden University. Joy concerns taking pleasure in the present, while hope appears when a wanted result remains uncertain.
Enthusiasm, by contrast, arises when a goal or opportunity seems attainable, the university said. In that state, people are not only feeling good; they are also inclined to move toward something and to involve others in what they are experiencing.
Leiden University used the familiar story of Archimedes as an example of this distinction. The tale describes Archimedes running through Syracuse and shouting “Eureka!” after an insight, a moment often linked with creativity. Vogelaar interprets the episode chiefly as enthusiasm: positive energy paired with an urge to act and share.
Social context shapes expression
The dissertation also examines how people decide whether to show enthusiasm around others, according to Leiden University. The university said social setting matters: people are more likely to express enthusiasm when they judge that doing so fits the situation.
Authenticity also plays a central role in that process, Leiden University said. Vogelaar’s research indicates that enthusiasm is tied not only to internal feeling but also to whether outward expression matches the person’s actual experience.
The work adds to a smaller area of psychological research, because enthusiasm has received relatively limited attention in the field, according to Leiden University. By treating enthusiasm as a separate emotion, Vogelaar’s dissertation seeks to clarify what it does and how people regulate it in social life.
Leiden University said Vogelaar discusses the research and the main findings of the dissertation in an accompanying video. The university presented the work as part of its coverage of the doctoral thesis.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.