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The grateful disposition: a conceptual and empirical topography
Michael E Mccullough1, Robert A Emmons, Jo-Ann Tsang
1Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275-0442, USA. mikem@mail.smu.edu
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|January 29, 2002
Summary
Gratitude is linked to positive emotions, well-being, and prosocial behavior. This grateful disposition is also associated with spirituality and negatively correlates with envy and materialism.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Positive Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Gratitude is a complex emotional state.
- Understanding the disposition toward gratitude is crucial for psychological well-being.
- Previous research has explored various facets of gratitude.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the correlates of the disposition toward gratitude.
- To investigate the relationship between gratitude and positive affect, well-being, prosocial behaviors, and religiousness/spirituality.
- To develop and validate a measure of gratitude.
Main Methods:
- Four studies were conducted involving self-ratings and observer ratings.
- A large nonstudent sample was utilized in Study 2.
- The Gratitude Questionnaire was developed and psychometric properties were assessed.
Main Results:
- A grateful disposition is associated with positive affect, well-being, prosocial behaviors, and religiousness/spirituality.
- Gratitude is negatively associated with envy and materialistic attitudes.
- These associations remained significant after controlling for major personality traits.
Conclusions:
- The disposition toward gratitude is a robust construct linked to various positive psychological outcomes.
- Gratitude is associated with prosociality and spirituality, and inversely related to negative traits like envy and materialism.
- The Gratitude Questionnaire provides a reliable measure for assessing this disposition.