Benjamin Hardy, Brigham Young University
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Researchers of gratitude have typically discussed gratitude as a one-dimensional construct. Gratitude journaling has been shown to enhance well-being (e.g., Emmons & McCullough, 2003), an inherent characteristic of this method is that frequently there is no clear benefactor identified in its entries. This type of impersonal gratitude has been termed generalized gratitude (Lambert, Graham, & Fincham, 2009). Conversely, benefit-triggered gratitude (Lambert et al.) refers to gratitude felt toward a particular benefactor.
In our study, we analyze the varieties of gratitude an individual may experience. We have found the literature primarily defines gratitude as feelings of thankfulness and indebtedness which come from being a direct beneficiary of a particular benefit. However, we see this as only one form of many varieties of gratitude in the literature. We call this form of gratitude benefit-triggered gratitude, as it is gratitude that results from a benefit an individual receives. We also discuss generalized gratitude which may not include a received benefit at all; but rather, could come from simply being happy to be alive or many other reasons. The last form of gratitude we describe may be seen as a combination of benefit-triggered gratitude and generalized gratitude, that it gratitude toward God. After describing the varieties of gratitude, we take these three forms of gratitude and explain their mechanistic paths toward prosocial behavior and well-being.