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Related Experiment Videos

Is gratitude a moral affect?

M E McCullough1, S D Kilpatrick, R A Emmons

  • 1National Institute for Healthcare Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA. mikem@mail.smu.edu

Psychological Bulletin
|April 24, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Gratitude functions as a moral emotion, influencing prosocial behavior and reinforcing ethical actions. This study explores its role as a moral barometer, motive, and reinforcer in human interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Moral Psychology
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Gratitude is increasingly recognized as a significant moral emotion.
  • It shares similarities with other moral affects like empathy and guilt.
  • Understanding gratitude's functions is key to comprehending moral cognition and behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conceptualize gratitude as a moral affect.
  • To identify and define the morally relevant functions of gratitude.
  • To examine the relationship between gratitude and personality/social factors within the moral domain.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of gratitude as a moral emotion.
  • Identification of three core moral functions of gratitude: barometer, motive, and reinforcer.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of personality and social factors associated with gratitude.

    • Main Results:

    • Gratitude serves as a moral barometer, signaling receipt of moral actions.
    • It functions as a moral motive, driving prosocial behavior towards benefactors and others.
    • Gratitude acts as a moral reinforcer, encouraging future moral actions from benefactors.

    Conclusions:

    • Gratitude is a moral affect with distinct, morally relevant functions.
    • Its associated personality and social factors align with its role in moral cognition and behavior.
    • Gratitude plays a crucial role in maintaining and promoting prosocial and moral conduct.