Furthering the Science of Gratitude

Abstract

In this chapter, we sought to strengthen the science of gratitude. We suggest effective approaches for studying gratitude, present a theoretical framework for researching gratitude, review recent gratitude research, and suggest directions and questions for future research, all in an attempt to encourage research on this important virtue. After presenting a brief historical background of gratitude, we define state and trait gratitude and describe several useful measurement tools. We review research that has examined traits that are associated with gratitude and show that grateful individuals have many salutary traits. We then overview research strategies that have been used to investigate gratitude and pay particular attention to successful experimental manipulations of gratitude. A number of studies have investigated the advantages of gratitude. Not only is gratitude strongly associated with happiness, but experimental studies have shown that gratitude actually enhances happiness. We propose several mechanisms whereby gratitude might enhance happiness. Gratitude may support happiness through enhancing enjoyment of benefits, relationships, self-esteem, and coping ability. Grateful processing of pleasant events may also enhance the accessibility of pleasant memories. Conversely, gratitude may support happiness by inhibiting envy and preventing depression. We conclude by presenting some concerns and prospects for the future of gratitude research. Continued understanding of this important emotion and virtue will do much to advance our understanding of the critical components of the good life.

Death and gratitude: Death reflection enhances gratitude

“…First, death reflection may be a good exercise for enhancing state gratitude. Although experimental studies have shown that enhancing gratitude results in increased subjective well-being (e.g., Emmons & McCullough, 2003; for a review, see Watkins et al, 2009), more research needs to investigate exercises that might enhance gratitude. Death reflection appears to be one way that individuals can The Journal of Positive Psychology 159 enhance their appreciation and gratitude for life.…”

“…Trait gratitude measures are strongly correlated with various measures of subjective well-being (e.g., McCullough, Emmons, & Tsang, 2002;Watkins, Woodward, Stone, & Kolts, 2003b;Wood, Joseph, & Maltby, 2008), longitudinal studies have found that gratitude predicts increased well-being over time, and gratitude is one of the strongest predictors of happiness amongst the strengths identified by the Values In Action project (Park, Peterson, & Seligman, 2004;. Furthermore, experimental studies have provided promising evidence that gratitude exercises may actually enhance immediate mood state (Watkins et al, 2003b), and long-term subjective well-being (Emmons & McCullough, 2003;Froh, Sefick, & Emmons, 2008;Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, & Schkade, 2005;Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005, for a review, see Watkins, Van Gelder, & Frias, 2009). Thus, not only is there a strong tendency for grateful individuals to be happy, but now there also appears to be some evidence that gratitude causes enhanced subjective well-being.…”

Collective Gratitude: Positive Organizational Scholarship Perspective

“…Gratitude is conceptualized both state and trait in the literature (Watkins et al, 2009). State gratitude is related to recognition of the benefit.…”

“…State gratitude is related to recognition of the benefit. Emmons (2003) and McCulluogh et al (2001) suggested and empirically showed that individuals feel positive emotional reaction when they gain a benefit from benefactor or appreciation of good things enhances state gratitude (Watkins et al, 2009). While state gratitude captures the gratitude that may change based on contextual factors, trait gratitude symbolize generally experienced gratitude.…”

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

“…Interventions such as Three Good Things prompt positive reminiscence by asking participants to list good things that happened during their day, and they have been shown to increase positive emotions. These memory processes are thought to be important in appreciative functioning (Watkins et al 2009). Using a cross-sectional design with 122 participants, Watkins et al (2004) found that appreciative functioning is associated with a tendency to recall positive, rather than negative, events.…”