The Theories and Effect of Gratitude: A System Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/ehss.v8i.4443Keywords:
Gratitude, Morality-as-Cooperation, Cognitive Emotion Theory.Abstract
Gratitude is an essential element of human cooperation and morality. Massive amounts of research have been conducted over the past several decades, and research that focus on gratitude has arisen in recent years. However, academia lacks integration of research. This review will intergrade the information and research results from different papers to provide a coherent approach and understanding of gratitude. The purpose of this review is to analyze and expound on different theories of gratitude, the factors that influence gratitude, and their impact on people’s lives. With the approach of literature reviewing, this paper discusses the origin and definition of morality as the thankful expressions from beneficiaries to benefactors. This paper lists three theories to explain gratitude: morality-as-Cooperation, moral Sentiments, and cognitive emotion theory of gratitude. The level of altruistic intention, specificity of helping behavior, and the level of appreciation of gratitude are the main factors affecting gratitude, which affects people’s life satisfaction and happiness.
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