In a religious context, gratitude can also refer to a feeling of indebtedness towards a deity. Most religions prescribe rituals of thanksgiving towards their higher powers; the expression of gratitude to God is a central theme of Christianity and Islam.

Psychological research has demonstrated that individuals are more likely to experience gratitude when they receive a favor that is perceived to be (1) valued by the recipient, (2) costly to the benefactor, (3) given by the benefactor with benevolent intentions, and (4) given gratuitously (rather than out of role-based obligations). Individuals who are induced to feel grateful are more likely to behave prosocially toward their benefactor or toward unrelated others.

Gratitude may also serve to reinforce future prosocial behavior in benefactors. For example, Carey and colleagues found that customers of a jewelry store who were called and thanked showed a subsequent 70% increase in purchases. In comparison, customers who were thanked and told about a sale showed only a 30% increase in purchases, and customers who were not called at all did not show an increase. Rind and Bordia found that restaurant patrons gave bigger tips when their servers wrote “Thank you” on their checks.

Although gratitude is something that anyone can experience, some people seem to feel grateful more often than others. People who tend to experience gratitude more frequently than do others also tend to be happier, more helpful and forgiving, and less depressed than their less grateful counterparts.

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Author's Bio

This definition is part of a series that covers the topic of Gratitude. The Official Guides to Gratitude are Katherine Scherer & Eileen Bodoh.