Gratitude and the Good Life: Toward a Psychology of Appreciation

262 Pages·2013·4.17 MB·English

by  Philip C. Watkins

Philip C. Watkins
Gratitude
and the
Good Life
Toward a Psychology of Appreciation
Gratitude and the Good Life

Philip C. Watkins
Gratitude and the Good Life
Toward a Psychology of Appreciation
123
PhilipC.Watkins
DepartmentofPsychology
EasternWashingtonUniversity
Cheney,WA,USA
ISBN978-94-007-7252-6 ISBN978-94-007-7253-3(eBook)
DOI10.1007/978-94-007-7253-3
SpringerDordrechtHeidelbergNewYorkLondon
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2013949602
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Acknowledgements
For me, my foray into the science of gratitude has been a very fulfilling journey,
andthispursuithasbenefittedbythecontributionofsomanypeople.Ihavefound
thatthescholarsinvolvedwiththescienceofgratitudeareunusuallysupportive,and
rarely if ever have I experienced any sense of competition from these exceptional
individuals. In this regard, I am particularly grateful to Mike McCullough, Jeff
Froh, Alex Wood, Nate Lambert, and Giacomo Bono. I feel particularly indebted
toBobEmmons,whoseinitialencouragementandongoingsupportandfriendship
have been such a valuable part of this pursuit. Bob has been essential in the
development and growth of the science of gratitude, and I am genuinely grateful
forhiscontributiontomyworkandmylife.
I find myself also deeply grateful for my colleagues in the Psychology Depart-
ment at Eastern Washington University. In particular the advice and friendship of
Russell Kolts has been very valuable to me. In those times when I wonder if I
am really accomplishing anything, Russell has always been there to support my
work. I would also like to express my appreciation for the grants department at
Eastern Washington University. In particular, Ruth Galm and Tracy Springberry
have been so helpful in garnering support for my work. The administration of
EasternWashingtonUniversityhasalsobeenveryimportanttothisendeavor.Their
willingness to support this somewhat nontraditional avenue of research has been
crucial. In this regard, I would like to particularly express my appreciation to my
deansduringthelast15years:JeffChertokandVickieShields.
Perhapsthemostimportantcontributorstomyresearchhavebeenmystudents.
Their passion for this field, their time commitment, their creative ideas, and their
hard work has made my research program possible. I am consistently surprised
at how much more my students give to me than I ever give to them. I hesitate
to mention names here because all of the students that have been a part of my
research have made my research team better. In particular though, Jens Uhder,
Stan Pichinevskiy, Andrew Pereira, Araceli Frias, Michael Van Gelder, Katherine
Ignacio, Tamara Stone, Dean Grimm, Amy Webber, Corby Martin, Aaron Brown,
Anthony Whitney, and Chris Floberg have been an encouragement and a great
supporttomyworkongratitude.
v
vi Acknowledgements
Finallyandmostimportantly,Iwishtothankmyfamilyforalltheirsacrificesthat
havemadethisworkpossible.Iamcontinuallyamazedhowinterestedmychildren
areinmyresearch,andtheyalwaysseemtoknowwhentheirfatherneedshisspace
to focus on his writing. Josh, Claire, and Meg, your love of learning inspires my
teacher’s heart. And finally I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my bride.
Leslie,youhavemadethehardestsacrificesinhelpingmeseethisworkthrough,and
yourunfailingsupporthasbeencrucialtocompletingthisproject.Youaremyrock.
Contents
1 Introduction:WhyaScienceofGratitude? ............................. 1
1.1 NeglectingtheGood:IgnoreItandItWillGoAway............... 1
1.2 TheImportanceofaScienceofGratitude .......................... 6
1.3 FurtheringtheScienceofGratitude................................. 7
1.4 Conclusion:AGuidingTheoryofGratitude........................ 7
References.................................................................... 8
PartI The“What”ofGratitude
2 WhatIsGratitudeandHowCanItBeMeasured?..................... 13
2.1 TheLegacyandGrammarofGratitude............................. 14
2.2 LevelsofAnalysisinEmotionResearch............................ 16
2.3 DefiningGratitude.................................................... 17
2.3.1 DefiningGratitudeasanEmotion ......................... 17
2.3.2 DefiningGratitudeasanAffectiveTrait................... 21
2.3.3 DefiningGratitudeasaMood.............................. 23
2.4 GratitudeandAppreciation.......................................... 26
2.5 MeasuringGratitude ................................................. 27
2.6 The Debt of Gratitude: Distinguishing Gratitude
fromIndebtedness.................................................... 31
2.7 Conclusion............................................................ 37
References.................................................................... 37
3 WhatCausesGratitude?................................................... 41
3.1 ActivatingEventsofGratitude ...................................... 41
3.2 TheCognitiveConditionsofGratitude:RecognitionsofGratitude 42
3.2.1 RecognizingtheGift ....................................... 43
3.2.2 RecognizingtheGoodnessoftheGift..................... 44
3.2.3 RecognizingtheGoodnessoftheGiver................... 45
3.2.4 RecognizingtheGratuitousnessoftheGift ............... 46
vii
viii Contents
3.2.5 It’saWonderfulLife:Death,Deprivation,
andGratitude................................................ 49
3.2.6 BeautyandGratitude....................................... 50
3.3 InducingGratitudeintheLab ....................................... 51
3.4 Conclusions........................................................... 53
References.................................................................... 53
4 WhatGoodIsGratitude?.................................................. 55
4.1 GratitudeandEmotionalWell-Being................................ 56
4.2 ACycleofVirtue? ................................................... 63
4.3 GratitudeandSocialWell-Being .................................... 65
4.4 GratitudeandPhysicalWell-Being.................................. 66
4.5 Conclusions........................................................... 67
References.................................................................... 67
5 What Are Grateful People Like?
CharacteristicsofGratefulPeople........................................ 73
5.1 Guiding Theory for Understanding the Character
ofGratefulPeople.................................................... 74
5.2 ThreePillarsoftheGratefulPerson................................. 76
5.3 TheDemographicsofGratitude..................................... 77
5.3.1 GenderandGratitude....................................... 78
5.4 TheDispositionofGratefulPeople ................................. 79
5.5 TheCharacteristicAdaptationsofGratefulPeople................. 82
5.6 TheLifeStoriesofGratefulPeople ................................. 87
5.7 TheSpiritualityofGratefulPeople.................................. 89
5.8 SummaryandConclusionsAbouttheGratefulPerson............. 94
References.................................................................... 96
PartII The“How”ofGratitude
6 DoesGratitudeEnhanceExperienceofthePresent?................... 103
6.1 DoesGratitudeIncreasetheFrequencyofPleasantExperiences?. 104
6.2 DoesGratitudeEnhancetheEnjoymentofPleasantExperiences? 107
6.3 SummaryandConclusions .......................................... 112
References.................................................................... 113
7 DoesGratitudeEnhanceExperienceofthePast? ...................... 117
7.1 MemoryandHappiness.............................................. 118
7.2 DoesGratitudeEnhancetheAccessibilityofPositiveMemories? 122
7.3 DoesGratitudeEnhancetheEnjoymentofPositiveMemories?... 133
7.4 DoesGratitudeMakeBlessingsEasiertoRecount,
orDoesRecountingBlessingsMakePeopleMoreGrateful?...... 135
7.5 SummaryandConclusions .......................................... 136
References.................................................................... 136
Contents ix
8 DoesGratitudeEnhanceSocialWell-Being?............................ 139
8.1 SeeingGratitudeasaMoralEmotion............................... 140
8.2 HowGratitudePromotesSocialWell-Being........................ 141
8.2.1 PeopleLikeGratefulPeople ............................... 141
8.2.2 GratitudeHelpsFormandBondRelationships ........... 142
8.2.3 GratitudeHelpsMaintainRelationships................... 145
8.2.4 GratitudePromotesProsocialBehavior ................... 149
8.3 Conclusion:TheFind-Remind-and-BindTheoryofGratitude .... 154
References.................................................................... 155
9 DoesGratitudeEnhanceCopingAbility? ............................... 159
9.1 TheImportanceofPositiveEmotionintheCopingProcess....... 161
9.2 ExperiencingGratitudeintheMidstofTrauma.................... 163
9.3 GratefulPeopleCopeWell .......................................... 165
9.4 TheHowofGratefulCoping ........................................ 167
9.4.1 GratefulReframing......................................... 167
9.4.2 TakingCareofBusinesswithGratitude................... 168
9.5 Conclusions........................................................... 170
References.................................................................... 171
10 DoesGratitudePreventNegativeAffectivity?........................... 175
10.1 What Does Positive Psychology Have to Offer
NegativePsychology?................................................ 176
10.2 TheRelationshipBetweenGratitudeandDepression.............. 178
10.3 HowDoesGratitudeContraveneDepression?...................... 180
10.3.1 GratitudeMayEnhancetheEnjoymentofActivities..... 180
10.3.2 Gratitude May Enhance the Awareness
ofPleasantEvents .......................................... 181
10.3.3 GratitudeMayCounteractRumination.................... 185
10.3.4 GratitudeMayEncouragePositiveReappraisal........... 186
10.3.5 GratitudeEnhancesRelationships......................... 187
10.3.6 SummarizingHowGratitudeContravenes
Depression:EgosystemVersusEcosystem................ 188
10.4 Conclusion:HowGratitudeMovesUsfromSelf-Focus
toOther-Focus........................................................ 189
References.................................................................... 189
11 HowDoesGratitudeDevelop?............................................ 195
11.1 HowCognitiveDevelopmentCultivatesGratitude................. 195
11.2 IsGratitudeGoodforChildren?..................................... 200
11.3 HowSecureAttachmentCultivatesGratitude ...................... 201
11.4 LifeEventsintheDevelopmentofGratitude....................... 205
11.5 CultivatingtheDevelopmentofGratitude .......................... 206
11.5.1 ParentingStylesthatMayCultivateGratitude............ 206
11.5.2 TrainingChildrentoCultivateGratitude.................. 208