Most past research on positive affect and emotion has focused exclusively on high-arousal positive affect (HAPA: e.g., excited), however, low-arousal positive affect (LAPA: e.g., calm) increasingly is included in emotion research. As such, there is a need to synthesize knowledge about the similarities and differences between LAPA and HAPA, the operationalization of LAPA and HAPA, and the distinct characteristics and importance of LAPA within emotional life. A systematic search identified 226 research papers comparing LAPA with HAPA from a broad spectrum of research topics; this review provides a narrative summary of their findings. Indications of differences between LAPA and HAPA were found in 89% of comparisons, with LAPA having a consistently distinguishable relationship to variables such as brain activity, cardiovascular health, decision-making, memory, mindfulness, personality, and solitude, among others. Other notable aspects of LAPA were found, including its role in stress, work, positive sociality, and well-being, as well as its importance in older adults and women. An analysis of items used to measure LAPA and HAPA revealed nuanced differences in conceptualizations, as well as emerging consensus around specific item usage. While considering item use in light of approach-avoidance motivation, we identified three possible LAPA subtypes: calm (a steady state of neither approach nor avoidance), satisfaction (having successfully approached), and relief (having successfully avoided). This review clarifies LAPA’s role in affective life, underscoring that LAPA’s differences from HAPA should be considered in research involving positive affect.

过去大多数关于积极情感和情绪的研究都只关注高唤醒积极情感（HAPA：例如，兴奋），然而，低唤醒积极情感（LAPA：例如，平静）越来越多地被纳入情感研究中。因此，需要综合有关 LAPA 和 HAPA 之间的异同、LAPA 和 HAPA 的操作以及 LAPA 在情感生活中的独特特征和重要性的知识。系统检索从广泛的研究主题中识别出 226 篇比较 LAPA 与 HAPA 的研究论文；这篇综述对他们的研究结果进行了叙述性总结。在 89% 的比较中发现了 LAPA 和 HAPA 之间的差异迹象，其中 LAPA 与大脑活动、心血管健康、决策、记忆、正念、个性和孤独等变量具有一致的可区分关系。 LAPA 的其他值得注意的方面也被发现，包括它在压力、工作、积极的社交和幸福中的作用，以及它对老年人和女性的重要性。对用于衡量 LAPA 和 HAPA 的项目的分析揭示了概念化方面的细微差别，以及围绕特定项目使用的新兴共识。在根据接近-回避动机考虑物品使用时，我们确定了三种可能的 LAPA 亚型：平静（既不接近也不回避的稳定状态）、满意（成功接近）和缓解（成功回避）。这篇综述阐明了 LAPA 在情感生活中的作用，强调在涉及积极情感的研究中应考虑 LAPA 与 HAPA 的差异。