TitlePositive Psychology in Context: Effects of Expressing Gratitude in Ongoing Relationships Depend on Perceptions of Enactor Responsiveness.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsAlgoe, SB, Zhaoyang, R
JournalJ Posit Psychol
Volume11
Issue4
Pagination399-415
Date Published2016
ISSN1743-9760
Abstract

<p>Recent correlational evidence implicates gratitude in personal and relational growth, for both members of ongoing relationships. From these observations, it would be tempting to prescribe interpersonal gratitude exercises to improve relationships. In this experiment, couples were randomly assigned to express gratitude over a month, or to a relationally-active control condition. Results showed modest effects of condition on personal and relational well-being. However, those whose partners were perceived as being particularly responsive when expressing gratitude at the initial lab session showed greater well-being across a range of outcomes, whereas this was not so for people in the control condition. Notably, evidence raises concerns about the effectiveness of artificial injections of gratitude when the partner is perceived to be low in responsiveness. Given the importance of close relationships, this work highlights the need for more theory-driven basic research tested in context before assuming what appears to work naturally will also work artificially.</p>

URLhttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17439760.2015.1117131http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17439760.2015.1117131
DOI10.1080/17439760.2015.1117131
Short TitleThe Journal of Positive Psychology
Alternate JournalJ Posit Psychol
PubMed ID27800009
PubMed Central IDPMC5085264
Grant ListR01 MH059615 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States