Three years ago, the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center launched the Expanding the Science and Practice of Gratitude program, which supported 29 research projects and yielded dozens of articles and videos on the science of gratitude.
As Thanksgiving 2014 approaches, we thought we’d take the time to highlight some of the best and most interesting content from the past three years.
Why bother? Benefits of gratitude
- A ‘Thnx’ a Day Keeps the Doctor Away, by Emiliana R. Simon-Thomas
- Why Gratitude Works, by Christine Carter (video)
- The Social Benefits of Gratitude, by Philip Watkins (video)
- A Scientific Reason to Stop and Smell the Roses, by Stacey Kennelly
- Can’t Get Therapy? Try Gratitude and Kindness, by Lauren Klein
- Can Gratitude Help People with Heart Disease? by Jeff Huffman (video)
Basics of building the “thank you” habit
- Six Habits of Highly Grateful People, by Jeremy Adam Smith
- Tips for Keeping a Gratitude Journal, by Jason Marsh
- How grateful are you, anyway? Take the quiz!
Fostering thankfulness at home, school, and work
- How to Foster Gratitude in School, by Jeffrey Froh and Giacomo Bono
- Gratitude 365, by Christine Carter (video)
- How Parents Can Foster Gratitude in Kids, by Andrea Hussong (video)
- Gratitude is for Lovers, by Amie M. Gordon
- How Does Gratitude Affect Romantic Relationships? by Sara Algoe (video)
- Should Women Thank Men for Doing the Dishes? by Jeremy Adam Smith
- Five Ways to Cultivate Gratitude at Work, by Jeremy Adam Smith
When “thanks” doesn’t seem like the right response
- Five Ways Giving Thanks Can Backfire, by Amie M. Gordon
- How Gratitude Can Help You Through Hard Times, by Robert Emmons
- Can Giving Thanks Help Us Heal from Trauma? by Jeremy Adam Smith
- Five Myths about Gratitude, by Robert Emmons
- Can Fostering Positive Emotions Help Stop Suicide? by Jeremy Adam Smith and Devan Davison
- What Gets in the Way of Gratitude, by Robert Emmons
- Cultivating Gratitude in a Consumerist Society by Thomas Gilovich (video)
We at the GGSC would like to thank our colleagues at UC Davis and the John Templeton Foundation, whose support made the gratitude project possible.