<p>Theorists conceptualize gratitude as incorporating either an <i>interpersonal perspective</i> in which an
individual feels or gives thanks to another person as the source of a provided
benefit, or an <i>impersonal perspective</i>
in which one’s feelings of gratitude are not necessarily directed to other
human beings as the beneficial source, but
rather feelings of gratitude are attributed to a nonhuman source (e.g., nature,
fate, luck, God, the cosmos). This latter perspective maintains that not only
do people feel gratitude for valued benefits provided by another person (i.e.,
interpersonal source), but people can also experience gratitude for valued
benefits that do not emerge or originate from others (i.e., impersonal source).
Theorists also posit that over time, people can take any particular benefit for
granted (i.e., habituate), failing to experience feelings of gratitude because
they presume that the availability of a benefit/source is stable and certain,
and unlikely to be lost. By comparison, evidence suggests that perceiving
uncertainty or the potential loss of a benefit/source inspires a greater sense
of gratitude. Reflecting on the pragmatic uncertainty of finite
benefits/resources that are frequently taken for granted should lead to
enhanced feelings of gratefulness. </p>
<p>Although the
majority of empirical work examining feelings and functions of gratitude is
structured around an interpersonal source perspective in which people receive
one-time benefits, investigations focused on gratitude for impersonal sources
of benefits remain scant and understudied. The present research follows from
McCullough’s (2001) and Watkins’ (2014) call to increase empirical research
examining gratitude in contexts in which the source
does not involve a human benefactor. The current work including a pilot
test and four studies (N = 1459) offers such an examination. The findings from
this initial set of studies demonstrated some evidence that those with
pro-environmental attitudes exhibited increased gratitude for water when
provided with specific information about water’s value (vs an unrelated topic)
(Study 1). I also found that people with more pro-environmental attitudes value
water more when water is presented as a relatively more uncertain resource (Study
2). The effect of certainty on gratitude was replicated in Study 3, showing that
those in a low certainty condition were more grateful for water than those in a
high certainty condition. Moreover, gratitude for water predicted the intent to
perform water conservation behaviors and interest in water conservation
volunteering (Study 3). I also found some evidence that habituation mediated
the effect between the perceived certainty of a benefit and lower gratitude,
suggesting that people experience less gratitude for benefits they take for
granted, in part, because they think less about them (Study 4). However, this
affect only appeared consistently among more liberal, pro-environmental people.
The current research contributes to and expands gratitude theory and research
by providing some initial evidence that feelings of gratitude can serve broader
adaptive purposes than is currently theorized. Thus, gratitude not only helps
people identify and bond with social benefactors, but it also may serve as a
generalized psychological system that prompts people to recognize and
positively respond to most any form of benefit/source. </p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/12698555 |
| Date | 23 July 2020 |
| Creators | Peter O Kearns (9159575) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/FEELING_GRATEFUL_FOR_THE_BENEFITS_OF_LIFE_NO_MATTER_THE_SOURCE/12698555 |
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