Overview
This lecture introduces new theory and evidence on how expressions of gratitude affect not just the recipient, but also third-party witnesses in a group, showing that gratitude can strengthen group relationships and foster prosocial behaviors like helping and affiliation.
Social Functions of Emotions
- Most emotion research has focused on how emotions function within individuals.
- Emotions also serve interpersonal functions, coordinating responses in social interactions.
- At the group level, emotions can shape dynamics by affecting behaviors of both direct recipients and third-party witnesses.
Group-Level Functions of Gratitude
- Gratitude is a positive emotion experienced when someone intentionally benefits another.
- Traditionally, gratitude has been studied in dyads: the grateful person and the benefactor.
- Authors propose that gratitude expressions also influence unrelated third-party witnesses in groups, not just benefactors.
Key Hypotheses Tested
- Witnesses observing gratitude will be more helpful and affiliative toward both the expresser (first party) and the benefactor (second party).
- The "other-praising" aspect of gratitude (highlighting benefactor's praiseworthiness) is key for these effects.
- Witnesses perceive gratitude expressers as responsive and benefactors as morally good people, which drives increased prosocial behaviors.
Experimental Findings (Summary of 8 Studies)
- Witnesses who saw gratitude expressed (even in a single line of text) were more likely to help the grateful person (Experiments 1-3).
- Witnesses self-disclosed more and desired more affiliation with gratitude expressers compared to controls (Experiments 4-5).
- These effects are driven specifically by gratitude, not by general positive expressions like congratulations.
- Manipulating the degree of "other-praising" in gratitude increased willingness to help and affiliate, mediated by perceived responsiveness and perceived goodness (Experiments 6-8).
- Emotional contagion (simply "catching" gratitude) does not fully explain these effects.
Mechanisms & Implications
- Gratitude expressions provide social information to witnesses, influencing their behavior toward both the grateful person and the benefactor.
- Perceived responsiveness of the expresser and perceived moral goodness of the benefactor are key mediators.
- These processes can help strengthen social networks and improve group functioning.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Gratitude — Positive emotion felt when someone intentionally benefits you.
- First party — The person expressing gratitude (the grateful person).
- Second party — The benefactor receiving gratitude.
- Third party — Witnesses who observe the gratitude exchange but are not directly involved.
- Other-praising behavior — Expressing appreciation by highlighting the benefactor's actions.
- Perceived responsiveness — Seeing someone as caring, understanding, and supportive.
- Affiliation — Desire to form social connections or friendships.
- Emotional contagion — Spread of emotional states from one person to others.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the eight experiments for methodology details if needed.
- Consider how expressions of gratitude might be leveraged in your own group settings to foster prosocial dynamics.
- Reflect on the distinction between gratitude and general positivity in social interactions.