Does gratitiude and thankfukness really make a difference?

Running Head: GRATITUDE AND THANKFULNESS

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GRATITUDE AND THANKFULNESS

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Does Gratitude and Thankfulness really make a difference?

Melissa Whiting

PSY-101: General Psychology

INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

25 September 2020

Gratitude is a term used when one wants to express appreciation for something. It is an emotion a person can covey when being thankful and giving praise to someone else. When gratitude is declared, it can make both the benefactor and recipient feel good and strengthen a relationship. Expressing thankfulness can also make the recipient feel more secure in a relationship and the benefactor can feel rewarded. Does gratitude and thankfulness really make a difference? How can researchers identify the effects of gratitude on a relationship? Gratitude is a prime convergence for studies as it is easily investigated because it happens when one person does something considerate for another person (Algoe et al., 2013).

Some studies suggest that when the benefactor receives positive feedback after expressing their gratitude to their significant other, that they have a more positive outlook on the relationship at the six months follow up (Algoe et al., 2013). Participants, who had been with one another on a romantic level for at least six months, were asked to engage in an array of intercommunications on video broken down into two sessions. Six months after the initial first session, the couples were asked to give feedback on how their relationship was going via an online questionnaire. There was an expressed gratitude task in one session and a control interaction (disclosure of positive and negative events) in the second session.

Once each interaction was completed, participants then rated, using a 10-item measure, exactly how reactive their significant other was during the interaction (Gabel et al., 2006). The scale was a great source from all the interactions and key data came directly from all the participant’s reports of how they reacted when thankfulness was expressed. As expected, both parties in the relationship had a positive outcome when expressing gratitude. Thus, gratitude being directly correlated to a more positive feedback at the six months follow up as well (Algoe et al., 2013).

As predicted, the brief psychological impression from hearing an expression of gratitude from their partners impacted their relationships for the long term in a positive aspect, as the feedback proved when the couples reported at the end of the six months (Algoe et al., 2013). Moreover, the benefactor felt a sense of gratification as well. Gratitude is an inherent emotion that causes satisfaction and positivity in relationships (Algoe et al., 2008).

Another study suggests that when partners express gratitude, it can act as a buffer for individuals with insecurity issues (Li & Chan, 2012). People who constantly feel support from their partner have an increased sense of security. Therefore, these individuals cannot only form, but uphold meaningful close relationships. This adds to one's physical well-being, but more importantly, their mental well-being (Raque-Bogdan et al., 2011).

The point of the research was to study whether a romantic partner’s expressions of gratitude can dissipate the negative correlations between attachment insecurity and relationship outcomes (Park et al., 2019). Through asking several questions of the participants in multiple studies and conducting analyses of the data collected, a conclusion was established. Individuals with insecurity issues, who both themselves and their partners are agreeable and expressing gratitude, have increased relationship quality (Park et al., 2019). When gratitude is expressed in a relationship, it shows that the partner cares for the other person in the relationship, hence, improving the insecurities of the partner who portrays self-doubt (Campbell et al., 2005).

In conclusion, there are benefits of expressing gratitude and thankfulness. When both partners in the relationship express gratitude, the relationship improves and advances (Algoe & Zhaoyang, 2016). William James’ suggests that the inmost foundation for any human is the longing to feel appreciated, verifying that when one feels and expresses gratitude it brings about feelings of warmth and gratification (Park et al., 2019). The results of the research prove that when one feels appreciated, their attachment avoidance decreases, and they are at a peace of mind with their relationship. Lastly, indicating that gratitude expressed in relationships makes one feel fulfilled (Park et al., 2019).

References

Algoe, S. B., & Frederickson, B. L. (2013). The social functions of the emotion of gratitude via expression. Emotion, 13(4), 605-609.

Algoe, S. B., Haidt, J., & Gable, S.L. (2008). Beyond reciprocity: Gratitude and relationships in everyday life. Emotion, 8, 425-429.

Algoe, S. B., & Zhaoyang, R. (2016). Positive psychology in context: Effects of expressing gratitude in ongoing relationships depend on perception of enactor responsiveness. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11, 399-415.

Campbell, L., Simpson, J. A., Boldry, J., & Kashy, D.A. (2005). Perceptions of conflict and support in romantic relationships: The role of attachment anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88, 510-531.

Gable, S. L., Gonzaga, G. C., & Strachman, A. (2006). Will you be there for me when things go right? Supportive responses to positive even disclosures. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91, 904-917.

Li, T., & Chan, D. K. S. (2012). How anxious and avoidant attachment affect romantic relationship quality differently: A meta-analytic review. European Journal of Social Psychology, 42, 406-419.

Park, Y., Impett, E., MacDonald, G., & Lemay, E. (2019). Saying ‘thank you’: Partners’ expressions of gratitude protect relationship satisfaction and commitment from harmful effects of attachment insecurity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 117(4), 773-806.

Raque-Bogdan, T. L., Ericson, S. K., Jackson, J., Martin, H. M., & Bryan, N. A. (2011). Attachment and mental and physical health: Self-compassion and mattering as mediators. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58, 272-278.