3.4 Summary

In this unit you have explored the many benefits of gratitude and how cultivating this character strength can enhance positive relationships and emotions.

In the next unit, you move on from the ‘past’ to study how positive psychology can work in the ‘present’ by examining how savouring can increase happiness.

Now go to Unit 4: Savouring [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] , where you explore the third of our six principles.

References

Allen, S. (2018) The science of gratitude, John Templeton Foundation.

Huffman, J.C., Beale, E.E., Celano, C.M., Beach, S.R., Belcher, A.M., Moore, S.V., Suarez, L., Motiwala, S.R., Gandhi, P.U., Gaggin, H.K. and Januzzi, J.L. (2016) 'Effects of optimism and gratitude on physical activity, biomarkers, and readmissions after an acute coronary syndrome: the gratitude research in acute coronary events study', Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 9(1), pp.55-63.

Huffman, J.C., DuBois, C.M., Healy, B.C., Boehm, J.K., Kashdan, T.B., Celano, C.M., Denninger, J.W. and Lyubomirsky, S. (2014) 'Feasibility and utility of positive psychology exercises for suicidal inpatients', General hospital psychiatry, 36(1), pp.88-94.

Mills, P.J., Redwine, L., Wilson, K., Pung, M.A., Chinh, K., Greenberg, B.H., Lunde, O., Maisel, A., Raisinghani, A., Wood, A. & Chopra, D. (2015) 'The role of gratitude in spiritual well-being in asymptomatic heart failure patients', Spirituality in clinical practice, 2(1), p.5.

Sheldon, K.M. & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006) 'How to increase and sustain positive emotion: The effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves', The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(2), pp.73-82.

Watkins, P. C., Emmons, R. A., Amador, T., & Fredrick, M. (2021). Growth of gratitude in times of trouble: Gratitude in the pandemic, a paper submitted for the virtual International Positive Psychology Association meeting, July 15–17, 2021. Quoted in Waters, L., Algoe, S.B., Dutton, J., Emmons, R., Fredrickson, B.L., Heaphy, E., Moskowitz, J.T., Neff, K., Niemiec, R., Pury C., & Steger, M. (2021) 'Positive psychology in a pandemic: buffering, bolstering, and building mental health', The Journal of Positive Psychology, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2021.1871945.

Wong, Y.J., Owen, J., Gabana, N.T., Brown, J.W., McInnis, S., Toth, P. & Gilman, L. (2018) 'Does gratitude writing improve the mental health of psychotherapy clients? Evidence from a randomized controlled trial', Psychotherapy Research, 28(2), pp.192-202.

Wood, A.M., Maltby, J., Gillett, R., Linley, P.A. & Joseph, S. (2008) 'The role of gratitude in the development of social support, stress, and depression: Two longitudinal studies', Journal of Research in Personality, 42(4), pp.854-871.