Why Gratitude Works
The Science of Gratitude
The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkley
Written by Summer Allen, Ph.D.
What is gratitude? Where does it come from and why do some people seem to be naturally more grateful than others? Over the past two decades scientists have made great strides towards understanding gratitude. Studies comprising the science of gratitude are the subject of this white paper.
10 Ways to be More Grateful
Featured in GGSC Greater Good Magazine
by Robert Emmons, University of California, Davis
Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., the world’s leading expert on gratitude, offers everyday tips for discovering a life of gratitude. These simple ideas can help change your perspective and discover a grateful way of life.
7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude
by Amy Morin, Forbes Magazine
It’s that time of year where many people begin thinking about everything they have to be thankful for. Although it’s nice to count your blessings on Thanksgiving, being thankful throughout the year could have tremendous benefits on your quality of life.
Gratitude Physically Changes Your Brain, New Study Says
by Jessica Stillman, Contributor Inc.com
Fad diets aside, we all know the basic formula for greater physical health — eat less junk and exercise more. The same can be said for greater happiness. Sure, mental health is hugely complex, but the research on how to promote basic, day-to-day well-being couldn’t be clearer — just cultivate gratitude.
The Grateful Brain
by Alex Korb Ph.D., Psychology Today
With the holidays coming up, there is one Turkey Day tradition that has the power to reshape your neural pathways. Sounds like an impressive feat, but it’s true. No it’s not the turkey increasing your serotonin (myth busted!), nor the apple pie giving you a burst of dopamine.
In Praise of Gratitude
Harvard Mental Health Letter, Harvard Health Publishing
The Thanksgiving holiday began, as the name implies, when the colonists gave thanks for their survival and for a good harvest. So perhaps November is a good time to review the mental health benefits of gratitude — and to consider some advice about how to cultivate this state of mind.
The Neuroscience of Why Gratitude Makes Us Healthier
by Ocean Robbins, Huffington Post
Negative attitudes are bad for you. And gratitude, it turns out, makes you happier and healthier. If you can find any authentic reason to give thanks, anything that is going right with the world or your life, and put your attention there, then statistics say you’re going to be better off.
5 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude
by Douglas Main, Newsweek
A psychologist from the University of Birmingham noted in 2013 that the “list of potential benefits is almost endless.”
Here are five ways gratitude can positively impact people’s lives, based on specific studies.
