New $5.9 Million Study on "Gratitude" Launched

Ever wonder why tuitions seem a little high at a lot of universities these days? The following post outlines why universities will often place a premium on research that, at first glance, may seem excessively expensive but not very important. In the big picture, however, such a study may be quite beneficial to society in many respects:

For too long, we’ve taken gratitude for granted.

Yes, “thank you” is an essential, everyday part of family dinners, trips to the store, business deals, and political negotiations. That might be why so many people have dismissed gratitude as simple, obvious, and unworthy of serious attention.

But that’s starting to change. Recently scientists have begun to chart a course of research aimed at understanding gratitude and the circumstances in which it flourishes or diminishes. They’re finding that people who practice gratitude consistently report a host of benefits:

• Stronger immune systems and lower blood pressure
• Higher levels of positive emotions
• More joy, optimism and happiness
• Acting with more generosity and compassion
• Feeling less lonely and isolatedThat’s why the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley—in collaboration with the University of California, Davis—is launching a $5.9 million, three-year project, Expanding the Science and Practice of Gratitude. The project is supported with funding from the John Templeton Foundation. The general goals of this initiative are to:

• Expand the scientific database of gratitude, particularly in the key areas of human health, personal and relational well-being, and developmental science;
• Promote evidence-based practices of gratitude in medical, educational, and organizational settings and in schools, workplaces, homes and communities, and in so doing…
• Engage the public in a larger cultural conversation about the role of gratitude in civil society.

To achieve these goals, we are launching a range of research and education initiatives, from a request for research proposals to a public event to a smartphone app competition. Read more here.

Related

The Health and Logic of a Thankful Lifestyle

Thanksgiving…a Holiday for all People and all Nations

Wishing You a Thankful Heart

Tags: Thanksgiving study, new gratitude study, benefits of thanksgiving