The DOI matches its Crossref record; 24 of the 25 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Gratitude: Prompting behaviours that build relationships
Abstract
The emotion gratitude is argued to play a pivotal role in building and maintaining social relationships. Evidence is accumulating that links gratitude to increases in relationship satisfaction. Yet, there is currently little evidence for how gratitude does this. The present paper provides experimental evidence of gratitude facilitating relationship-building behaviours. Study 1 provides evidence that gratitude promotes social affiliation, leading one to choose to spend time with a benefactor. Study 2 offers further evidence of gratitude's ability to strengthen relationships by showing that gratitude facilitates socially inclusive behaviours, preferentially towards one's benefactor, even when those actions come at a cost to oneself.
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“Gratitude has positive dyadic effects: its experience induces social approach behaviors toward one’s benefactor,(43) while its expression elicits approach behaviors from the benefactor toward the expressor.(44)”
In the citing paper
“Thus, the current findings provide preliminary evidence that the social connectedness-related benefits of positive activities previously demonstrated in non-clinical (Algoe et al., 2013; Bartlett et al., 2012; O’Connell et al., 2016; Nelson et al., 2016; Williams & Bartlett, 2015) and non-diagnosed elevated symptom samples (Alden & Trew, 2013) also extend to clinical populations.”
From Enhancing social connectedness in anxiety and depression through amplification of positivity: Preliminary treatment outcomes and process of change (2020) · cites this paper as Bartlett et al., 2012
Citations
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“In either case emotions are pivotal for successfully negotiating these commitment problems because they encourage individuals to adopt behaviours that support the partnership even when such behaviours are costly to oneself (Baumeister, Stillwell, & Heatherton, 1994 ; Frank, 1988 ; Gonzaga, Keltner, Londahl, & Smith, 2…”
BackgroundSocial Functions of Emotions at Four Levels of Analysis
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“In fact, it has been argued to play such an important role that it has been billed as ‘‘the moral memory of mankind’’ (Simmel, 1908/1996) and a ‘‘moral barometer’’ signalling a kindness and then motivating the grateful individual to reciprocate the prosocial behaviour (McCullough et al., 2001).”
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Bartlett, M. Y., & DeSteno, D. (2006) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01705.x · Cited by 1,161
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Metadata
- Authors
- Bartlett, M. Y., Condon, P., Cruz, J., Baumann, J., & Desteno, D.
- Affiliations
- Gonzaga University (US)
- Northeastern University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bartlett, Monica Y.
- Venue
- Cognition & Emotion
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-01
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 2-13
- ISSN
- 0269-9931 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-0600
- OpenAlex
- W2070369089
- Cited by
- 242
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 9.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cognition & Emotion (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- gratitude, relationship building, relationship satisfaction, social affiliation, social inclusion, donors, prosocial behavior, interpersonal relationships
- MeSH terms
- Attitude, Emotions, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Models, Psychological, Personal Satisfaction, Social Behavior, Beneficence
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