Gratitude

Gratitude is a positive, other-praising moral emotion that recognises and values the good in others. It can promote social cohesion and strengthen reciprocal relationships. Unlike other moral emotions that focus on moral violations, gratitude arises in response to actions that are beneficial to the self or others, often seen as expressions of goodwill or generosity. According to social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, gratitude, alongside emotions like awe and elevation, reinforces prosocial behaviour (in other words, they benefit others or society.)

Psychologically, gratitude is a form of eudaimonic pleasure, a type of happiness based on long-term fulfilment. The eudaimonic approach defines happiness as long-term psychological well-being achieved through self-development, self-reflection, and the actualisation of one’s potential. Conversely, hedonistic happiness is the accumulation of pleasurable experiences, emphasising the maximisation of pleasure as life’s ultimate goal. Because it is eudaimonic, gratitude contributes to a sense of well-being that goes beyond personal satisfaction and connects to deeper moral bonds.

The expression of gratitude functions as “social glue”. It promotes mutual commitments and encourages altruistic actions in groups, although it may simultaneously highlight divisions between ingroup and outgroup members (those outside the circle of mutual exchange).

As a moral emotion, gratitude fosters social cohesion by connecting individuals to society. People often feel grateful toward those they have never met but see as contributing to the greater good. It can also inspire a lasting sense of obligation when individuals acknowledge that some gifts, such as the gift of life, cannot be repaid. In such cases, gratitude may inspire a sense of permanent moral responsibility. People who feel grateful are likely to engage in reciprocal acts of kindness, building a foundation of trust and cooperation in their ingroup.

Some studies show that gratitude can also help maintain broader social harmony. Many individuals who frequently experience and express gratitude are referred to as possessing “trait gratitude”. In other words, these individuals tend to show heightened moral sensitivity, particularly in response to injustice to others.

These characteristics suggest that gratitude can reinforce an individual’s commitment to uphold moral values in both private and public interactions. (Beyond morality, gratitude also has positive impacts on psychological well-being.) Its action tendency—the urge to act in a certain way as part of the emotional process—encourages individuals to support and help their peers. Through its positive effects on cooperation, gratitude contributes to social stability and collective welfare.

FURTHER READING

Algoe, S. B., Haidt, J., & Gable, S. L. (2008). Beyond reciprocity: Gratitude and relationships in everyday life. Emotion, 8(3), 425–429. https://doi.org/10.1037/1528-3542.8.3.425

Bartlett, M. Y., & DeSteno, D. (2006). Gratitude and Prosocial Behavior: Helping When It Costs You. Psychological Science, 17(4), 319–325. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01705.x

Ellemers, N., Pagliaro, S., & Nunspeet, F. V. (2023). The Routledge International Handbook of the Psychology of Morality (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003125969

Gray, K., & Wegner, D. M. (2011). Dimensions of Moral Emotions. Emotion Review, 3(3), 258–260. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073911402388

Haidt, J. (2003). The moral emotions. In R. J. Davidson, K. R. Scherer, & H. H. Goldsmith (Eds.), Handbook of affective sciences. (pp. 852–870). Oxford University Press.

Haidt, J. (2006). The happiness hypothesis: Finding modern truth in ancient wisdom. Basic Books.

Haidt, J. (2012). The righteous mind: Why good people are divided by politics and religion (1st ed). Pantheon Books.

Keefer, L. A., Brown, M., Brown, F. L., & Sacco, D. F. (2021). Gratitude predicts selective moral concern about interpersonal harms. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(5), 701–713. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2020.1832246

Ma, L. K., Tunney, R. J., & Ferguson, E. (2017). Does gratitude enhance prosociality?: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 143(6), 601–635. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000103

Portocarrero, F. F., Gonzalez, K., & Ekema-Agbaw, M. (2020). A meta-analytic review of the relationship between dispositional gratitude and well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 164, 110101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110101

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On Happiness and Human Potentials: A review of Research on Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 141–166. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141

McCullough, M. E., Kilpatrick, S. D., Emmons, R. A., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Is gratitude a moral affect? Psychological Bulletin, 127(2), 249–266. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.127.2.249