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| If Gratitude Is The Key To Happiness, Women Have It, But Men May Be Locked Out |
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| SciMed - Neuroscience | |||
| TS-Si News Service | |||
| Friday, 20 March 2009 10:00 | |||
 Fairfax, VA, USA. To date, studies of gratitude suggest there might be a difference between the sexes. However, the explorations have been limited in scope, with only a few clues to why this could be so.Todd Kashdan, associate professor of psychology at George Mason University (GMU), wanted to explore this further — and find out why. He says that even if it is a small effect, "it could make a huge difference in the long run.” Kashdan conducted several new studies that he says point to the best way for achieving happiness. With the arrival of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and high school and college graduations, there will be plenty of gift-giving and well wishes. When those start pouring in, he advises that we all let ourselves be grateful.
Gratitude, the emotion of thankfulness and joy in response to receiving a gift, is one of the essential ingredients for living a good life, Kashdan says. His most recent paper, published in the Journal of Personality, reveals that when it comes to achieving well-being, gender plays a role. He found that men are much less likely to feel and express gratitude than women.
In one study, Kashdan interviewed college-aged students and older adults, asking them to describe and evaluate a recent episode in which they received a gift.
“The way that we get socialized as children affects what we do with our emotions as adults,” says Kashdan. “Because men are generally taught to control and conceal their softer emotions, this may be limiting their well-being.”
Kashdan has been active in the positive psychology movement since 2000, when he taught one of the first college courses on the science of happiness.
He currently serves as director of the Laboratory for the Study of Social Anxiety, Character Strengths, and Related Phenomena at GMU, with an interest in the assessment and cultivation of well-being, curiosity, gratitude and meaning and purpose in life.
Kashdan says that if he had to name three elements that are essential for creating happiness and meaning in life it would be meaningful relationships, gratitude, and living in the present moment with an attitude of openness and curiosity.
Kashdan's book Curious?, which outlines ways people can enhance and maintain the various shades of well-being, is scheduled for release in April 2009 with HarperCollins.
Twitter: Todd KashdanInterested readers can send a tweet to toddkashdan on Twitter.
FundingThe National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) supported the research with a grant to Todd B. Kashdan.
ParticipationDaniel Terhar and Kate Doherty assisted the research during the data collection and preparation stages.
CitationGender Differences in Gratitude: Examining Appraisals, Narratives, the Willingness to Express Emotions, and Changes in Psychological Needs. Todd B. Kashdan, Anjali Mishra, William E. Breen, Jeffrey J. Froh. Journal of Personality. Early View, Date: March 2009. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00562.x
Download PDF Abstract Previous work suggests women might possess an advantage over men in experiencing and benefiting from gratitude. We examined whether women perceive and react to gratitude differently than men. In Study 1, women, compared with men, evaluated gratitude expression to be less complex, uncertain, conflicting, and more interesting and exciting. In Study 2, college students and older adults described and evaluated a recent episode when they received a gift. Women, compared with men, reported less burden and obligation and greater gratitude. Upon gift receipt, older men reported the least positive affect when their benefactors were men. In Studies 2 and 3, women endorsed higher trait gratitude compared with men. In Study 3, over 3 months, women with greater gratitude were more likely to satisfy needs to belong and feel autonomous; gratitude had the opposite effect in men. The willingness to openly express emotions partially mediated gender differences, and effects could not be attributed to global trait affect. Results demonstrated that men were less likely to feel and express gratitude, made more critical evaluations of gratitude, and derived fewer benefits. Implications for the study and therapeutic enhancement of gratitude are discussed.
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If Gratitude Is The Key To Happiness, Women Have It, But Men May Be Locked Out Friday, 20 March 2009
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