The Psychology of Gratitude

Gratitude like other positive emotions has inspired many theological and philosophical writings but it has inspired very little vigorous empirical research. In an effort to remedy this oversight this volume brings together prominent scientists from various disciplines to examine what has become known as the most-neglected emotion. The volume begins with the historical philosophical and theoretical foundations of gratitude then presents the current research perspectives from social personality and developmental psychology as well as from primatology anthropology and biology. The volume also includes a comprehensive annotated bibliography of research on gratitude. This work contributes a great deal to the growing positive psychology initiative and to the scientific investigation of positive human emotions. It will be an invaluable resource for researchers and students in social personality and developmental clinical and health psychology as well as to sociologists and cultural anthropologists.