ABSTRACT
Gratitude has undoubtedly been one of the “success stories” of positive psychology. It has been found to deliver successful outcomes in positive psychological interventions consistently and has been associated with a host of benefits, both individually and interpersonally. For instance, it has been found to play a role in increasing and maintaining subjective well-being, increased positive and decreased negative affect (Emmons & McCullough, 2003); satisfaction with life (Fagley, 2012; Froh, Yurkewicz, & Kashdan, 2009); and improved mental health (Froh, Emmons, Card, Bono, & Wilson, 2011). From a more collective point of view, gratitude promotes pro-social behaviour and strengthens social bonds (Algoe, Haidt, & Gable, 2008; Bartlett & De Steno, 2006; Grant & Gino, 2010). It has demonstrated robust effects in positive psychological interventions in both clinical (Geraghty, Wood, & Hyland, 2010a, 2010b) and educational contexts (Seligman, Ernst, Gillham, & Linkins, 2009; Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005). In the light of these findings, it is perhaps not surprising that gratitude has been labelled “the quintessential positive psychology trait” (Wood, Joseph, Lloyd, & Atkins, 2009, p. 43). It abounds in benefits and makes a significant contribution to well-being and positive mood.
