Gratitude is an attitude of appreciation experienced as a pleasant feeling with thoughts about good people, experiences, things, or benefits in response to a gift or experience. Gratitude also includes behavioral responses such as a smile and an expression of thankfulness.
Gratitude is associated with indicators of better health such as lower blood pressure, longer and more refreshing sleep, and better self-care. Grateful people report less aches and pains.
High levels of gratitude are correlated with other positive emotions. People with high levels of gratitude feel more alert, joyful, optimistic, and happy.
High levels of gratitude are linked to better social relationships characterized by forgiveness, generosity, compassion, and helpfulness. People high in gratitude feel less lonely and tend to be more outgoing.
As a feeling, gratitude is associated with the E or emotional domain of functioning in the SCOPES model. Grateful thoughts are part of C (cognition) and expressions of gratitude are part of O (Observable Behavior). The improved health factors are part of the P (Physical domain). Of course, gratitude may be a component of self-identity--including the link with spirituality thus, the core Self. Finally, gratitude occurs in a Social Context.
Several researchers are associated with gratitude science.
Robert Emmons is the leading expert. He is professor at the University of California, Davis. He has published many articles and books on the subject.
Michael McCullough, Professor of Psychology, University of Miami
See also the names in the references below.
Read more about gratitude, which is chapter 4 in Living Well available on AMAZON and other fine booksellers in many countries.
Related Posts
How to measure gratitude
Grateful People: The Psychology of Gratitude
*Big 12 features of Gratitude
*How to develop gratitude - journals and more
Some Gratitude References
Several researchers are associated with gratitude science.
Robert Emmons is the leading expert. He is professor at the University of California, Davis. He has published many articles and books on the subject.
Michael McCullough, Professor of Psychology, University of Miami
See also the names in the references below.
Read more about gratitude, which is chapter 4 in Living Well available on AMAZON and other fine booksellers in many countries.
Related Posts
How to measure gratitude
Grateful People: The Psychology of Gratitude
*Big 12 features of Gratitude
*How to develop gratitude - journals and more
Connections
My Page www.suttong.com
My Books AMAZON GOOGLE PLAY STORE
FACEBOOK Geoff
W. Sutton
TWITTER @Geoff.W.Sutton
PINTEREST www.pinterest.com/GeoffWSutton
Publications (many free downloads)
Academia Geoff
W Sutton (PhD)
ResearchGate
Geoffrey W Sutton (PhD)
Algoe, S.B. & Stanton, A.L. (2012).
Gratitude when it is needed most: Social functions of gratitude in women with
metastatic breast cancer. Emotion, 12, 163-168. DOI: 10.1037/a0024024
Emmons, R. A., & Crumpler, C. A.
(2000). Gratitude as a human strength: Appraising the evidence. Journal of
Social and Clinical Psychology, 19, 56-69.
Emmons, R. A., & Kneezel, T. T.(2005).
Giving thanks: Spiritual and religious correlates of gratitude. Journal of
Psychology and Christianity, 24, 140-148.
Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E.
(2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: Experimental studies of gratitude
and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, 84, 377-389.
Froh, J. J., Bono, G., & Emmons, R. A.
(2010). Being grateful is beyond good manners: Gratitude and motivation to
contribute to society among early adolescents. Motivation and Emotion, 34,
144-157.
Froh, J., Sefick, W. J., & Emmons, R.
A. (2008). Counting blessings in early adolescents: An experimental study of
gratitude and subjective well-being.
Journal of School Psychology, 46,
213-233.
Kashdan, T.B., Mishra, A., Breen, W. E.,
& Froh, J.J. (2009). Gender differences in gratitude: Examining appraisals,
narratives, the willingness to express emotions, and changes in psychological
needs. Journal of Personality, 77, 691-730. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00562.x
McCullough, M. E., Emmons, R. A., &
Tsang, J. (2002). The grateful disposition: A conceptual and empirical
topography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82-112-127.
Rash, J.A., Matsuba, M.K., & Prkachin,
K.M. (2011). Gratitude and well-being: Who benefits the most from a gratitude
intervention? Applied psychology: Health and well-being, 3, 350-369. DOI:
10.1111/j.1758-0854.2011.01058.x
Toepfer, S.M., Cichy, K., & Peters, P.
(2012). Letters of gratitude: Further evidence for author benefits. Journal of
Happiness Studies, 13, 187-201. DOI: 10.1007/s10902-011-9257-7
Toussaint, L. & Friedman, P. (2009).
Forgiveness, gratitude, and well-geing: The mediating role of affect and
beliefs. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10, 635-654. DOI:
10.1007/s10902-008-9111-8
Tsang, J., Ashleigh, S., & Carlisle,
R.D. (2012). An experimental test of the relationship between religion and
gratitude. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 4, 40-55. DOI: 10.1037/a0025632