Evidence for a relationship between trait gratitude and prosocial behaviour

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Economics
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Prosocial behavior benefits communities but can incur personal costs.
• Gratitude is an emotion that promotes reciprocity and cooperation.
• The Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ6) is a common measure of trait gratitude.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the external validity of the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ6).
• To examine the relationship between trait gratitude and prosocial behaviors in incentivized economic games.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted with a total of 501 participants.
• Trait gratitude was measured using the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ6).
• Participants engaged in a charity donation task and an incentivized trust game.

Main Results:

• Trait gratitude scores positively correlated with donations in the charity task.
• Higher trait gratitude predicted greater transfers and returns in the trust game.
• These findings indicate that GQ6 effectively measures generosity and reciprocity.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with higher trait gratitude tend to be more generous and trusting.
• The Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ6) demonstrates predictive validity for prosocial behaviors.
• This research supports the role of gratitude in facilitating cooperation.