Joy: quick facts
Joy is an intense, high-energy positive emotion marked by a feeling of delight and lightness. It often arrives suddenly in response to good news, a reunion, or a moment of beauty, and it tends to spill into expressive…
Category
Basic emotions
Valence
Positive
Emotion family / blend
Happiness
Typical triggers
Good news, reunions, achievements, beauty, shared celebration
How it's expressed
Broad smile, bright eyes, laughter, animated movement, raised energy
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions; Paul Ekman Group — Universal Emotions. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.