Benefits of Expressing Gratitude

Abstract

This research was conducted to examine the hypothesis that expressing gratitude to a relationship partner enhances one's perception of the relationship's communal strength. In Study 1 (N = 137), a cross-sectional survey, expressing gratitude to a relationship partner was positively associated with the expresser's perception of the communal strength of the relationship. In Study 2 (N = 218), expressing gratitude predicted increases in the expresser's perceptions of the communal strength of the relationship across time. In Study 3 (N = 75), participants were randomly assigned to an experimental condition, in which they expressed gratitude to a friend, or to one of three control conditions, in which they thought grateful thoughts about a friend, thought about daily activities, or had positive interactions with a friend. At the end of the study, perceived communal strength was higher among participants in the expression-of-gratitude condition than among those in all three control conditions. We discuss the theoretical and applied implications of these findings and suggest directions for future research.

Thanking, Apologizing, Bragging, and Blaming: Responsibility Exchange Theory and the Currency of Communication

“…People who thank are more likely to feel grateful, and grateful people are more likely to reciprocate, are more prosocial (or concerned about others), and are better relationship partners (Algoe, Fredrickson, & Gable, 2013;Algoe, Gable, & Maisel, 2010;Algoe, Haidt, & Gable, 2008;Algoe, Kurtz, & Hilaire, 2016;Algoe & Haidt, 2009;Algoe & Zhaoyang, 2016;Bartlett, Condon, Cruz, Baumann, & Desteno, 2012;Bartlett & DeSteno, 2006;DeSteno, Bartlett, Baumann, Williams, & Dickens, 2010;Lambert et al, 2010;Lambert & Fincham, 2011;Williams & Bartlett, 2015). Similarly, people who apologize are often seen as more trustworthy and, like thankers, better relationship partners (Darby & Schlenker, 1982;Hannon, Rusbult, Finkel, & Kamashiro, 2010;Ho, 2012;Hodgins & Liebeskind, 2003;Kim et al, 2004Kim et al, , 2006Maio et al, 2008;McCullough et al, 1997;Weiner et al, 1991).…”

“…Thanking is not only helpful in enhancing relationships (Algoe & Zhaoyang, 2016;Lambert, Clark, Durtschi, Fincham, & Graham, 2010;Lambert & Fincham, 2011) but can promote socially and economically valuable behaviors like tipping (Rind & Bordia, 1995), volunteering (Bennett, Ross, & Sunderland, 1996;Grant & Gino, 2010), voting (Panagopoulos, 2011), helping behavior (R. D. Clark, 1975;Deutsch & Lamberti, 1986;Goldman, Seever, & Seever, 1982;Moss & Page, 1972), self-sacrificing protection of strangers (McGovern, Ditzian, & Taylor, 1975), and a variety of other positive actions (e.g., Carey, Clicque, Leighton, & Milton, 1976;H. B. Clark, Northrop, & Barkshire, 1988;Maheux, Legault, & Lambert, 1989).…”

Components of Appreciative Functioning: A Thematic Analysis of Relevant Literature and Content Analysis of Existing Measurement Scales

“…Yet other researchers have focused on the relational impact of gratitude expression (e.g. Lambert et al 2010).…”

“…Expressing gratitude motivates benefactors to engage in further prosocial behaviour (Grant and Gino 2010), increasing the likelihood of future benevolence and, hence, future gratitude by the recipient. Expressing gratitude enhances the perceived communal strength of relationships (Lambert et al 2010) and enhances marital satisfaction (Gordon et al 2011). Emotional expression may also play a role in moderating the effects of gratitude on one's own well-being .…”

“…Evidence suggests gratitude impacts relationships in a range of ways. For example, Lambert et al (2010) found that expressing gratitude to a relationship partner enhances the expresser's perception of the communal strength of the relationship. A study by Lambert and Fincham (2011) showed that expressing gratitude also leads to more relationship maintenance behaviour.…”