The GGSC's coverage of gratitude is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation as part of our Expanding Gratitude project. For an in-depth overview of where gratitude comes from, what its benefits are, and how to cultivate it, read this special white paper on the science of gratitude.
Robert Emmons, perhaps the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, argues that gratitude has two key components, which he describes in a Greater Good essay, “Why Gratitude Is Good.” “First,” he writes, “it’s an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received.” In the second part of gratitude, he explains ...
But being grateful is a choice, a prevailing attitude that endures and is relatively immune to the gains and losses that flow in and out of our lives. When disaster strikes, gratitude provides a perspective from which we can view life in its entirety and not be overwhelmed by temporary circumstances.
Need some motivation for practicing gratitude this Thanksgiving? Robert Emmons, the world's leading scientific expert on gratitude, reveals why gratitude is good for our bodies, our minds, and our relationships.
Here's how you can overcome that. Are you truly grateful for the good things in your life—or do you take them for granted? New research is starting to explore how gratitude works to improve our mental health. A new study suggests that people who give thanks tend to feel less disconnected from others.
How grateful are you? Take our quiz. What we found is that parents, like the first gratitude researchers, focused on what children DO to show gratitude. Most parents (85 percent) spurred their children to say thank you and show gratitude in ways consistent with good manners.
