
CHAPTER
2
Positive
Climate
T
he term positive climate refers to a condition in
which positive emotions predominate over negative
emotions in the work environment (Denison, 1996;
Smidts, Pruyin, & Van Riel, 2001). Employees with opti-
mistic attitudes and cheerful outlooks are typical of a
positive climate, for example, compared to employees expe-
riencing stress, anxiety, or distrust. Positive interpretations
predominate over negative interpretations. Fredrickson
(1998, 2001, 2002, 2003) and Bagozzi (2003) found in their
research that conditions that foster positive emotions led
to optimal individual and organizational functioning; in
other words, to positiv ...