Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

  Can the practice of gratitude actually improve mental health? Many studies extol the benefits of expressing gratitude. What’s different about this study by Joel Wong and his colleagues are the participants. All of them were psychotherapy patients. The research question: Would gratitude writing add value to psychotherapy?   The patients All 293 volunteers were young adults having an average age of 22 and the youngest were age 18. Most were women (65%). And most identified as “White/European.” They were seeking psychotherapy services at a university. The plan The researchers randomly assigned the patients to one of three groups. 1. Gratitude Letter writing and Psychotherapy . In three gratitude sessions, the participants wrote letters of thanks to people—most wrote to friends, mothers, and fathers. They had the option to send their letters or not—23% sent a letter. 2. Expressive Writing and Psychotherapy . In their sessions, the expressive writing group wrote...

  In the past few decades, psychological scientists have studied gratitude along with other virtues as part of the broad field known as positive psychology, which focuses on well-being in contrast to studies of mental disorders. Expressing gratitude is one of those classic virtues encouraged in many cultures. Short Summary Two psychological scientists studied the effects of expressing gratitude over a period of 10 weeks. Those in the gratitude group felt better and had fewer health symptoms than those in other groups. The Experiment In 2003, two psychological scientists published the results of several studies. Robert Emmons of the University of California, Davis and Michael McCullough of the University of Miami assigned volunteers to one of three groups, which the research team called Gratitude, Hassles, and Events. The study required 10 weekly reports. Here’s what the scientists told each group. Gratitude group The gratitude group were asked to think about their past week...

 The Big 12 of Gratitude Thanksgiving is more than turkey and pumpkin pie — it’s a reminder of something deeper: gratitude. But here’s the secret… you don’t have to wait for the holiday table to enjoy its benefits. Gratitude isn’t just a religious practice or a polite “thank you.” It’s a mindset that changes how we see the world, and science shows it can transform our lives. Why Gratitude Matters 1. Across cultures and faiths, gratitude is celebrated as a virtue. 2. Psychologists describe it as a positive emotion directed toward those who give us gifts or kindness. 3. For people of faith, gratitude often points back to God. For everyone else, it’s simply a way of recognizing the good in life. Either way, gratitude is powerful — and it pays off in ways you might not expect. Ad. Read more about Gratitude and Faith in Chapter 4 of Living Well Buy on AMAZON The Big 12 Blessings of Gratitude Grateful people tend to experience: 1. More positive emotions 2. Greater life satisf...

  Can expressing thanks really make a difference in your life? A classic and oft cited study suggests the act of writing about things we are thankful or grateful for is good for us. Here’s a summary of what Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough found in a sample of 192 college students— mostly women (147). The Research Method The students were divided into three experimental groups at the beginning of a quarter. The students completed 10 weekly reports. The three groups: 1. Gratitude . They were asked to think about last week and write down 5 things that they were grateful or thankful for. 2. Hassles . The researchers explained that hassles are things that are irritating. They were to think about what happened today and list up to 5 hassles. 3. Events . The students were asked to think about the past week and write 5 events that impacted them. How the researchers measured change in the participants—what the participants did. 1. They rated their feelings using 3...

I first learned about a Reverse Advent Calendar from English friends who were collecting items for a local charity. There are several helpful sites online, which offer ideas on how to create your own calendar. The idea is to help children approach Christmas with an attitude of giving rather than getting. Of course, the lesson is important for adults as well. Families can do something as simple as putting a pound or dollar (or more) in a container each day, which will be donated to a local food pantry or other community charity at the end of December. Another approach is to place food items or clothes in baskets for each day leading up to Christmas and donate them to a charity. Another suggestion is to organise four bags or baskets to hold items related to nativity themes as suggested by  https://buildfaith.org/reverse-advent/ . The themes focus on the newborn Jesus and his need for food, warmth, care for the parents and care for the newborn. These themes translate ...

Ten Ways Spirituality Promotes Emotional Health I was asked to write an article about faith and emotional health. As a Christian, I naturally focused on Christian spirituality. As a psychologist, I examined recent publications describing emotional well-being. In this process, I came up with ten Christian principles and virtues linked to psychological well-being. The complete article can be found in Vital Magazine online ( Sutton, 2016 ). In this post I will just list the ten items and refer you to the magazine article for the content. 1. Strengthen Faith 1 Corinthians 13 2. Nurture Hope 1 Corinthians 13 3. Embrace Love 1 Corinthians 13 4. Express gratitude Psalm 95:2 5. Practice Forgiveness Ephesians 4:32 6. Share Generously 2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 7. Connect with Friends and Family Genesis 2:18 8. Share your concerns Matthew 11: 28-30 9. Manage Anger Ephesians 4:26 10. Enjoy a Sabbath Rest Mark 2:27 A quote from the article: "Emotional health goes ...

Reflecting on the good things people have done reminds us that some people really do good things to help people they do not know. An act of kindness can be a significant investment in the lives of others. My story is about Rev. Fred Packer, of Vineland, NJ who met us at the dock in New York City, drove us down the NJ Turnpike, and welcomed us into his home for a few weeks until my dad found a job. After a few pay checks we were able to afford a small rental house. And dad bought his first car an 8-year old 1949 Plymouth with a dangling cloth roof. It wasn't just the pastor who helped us but he set the example. People in the church brought important stuff-- a cot for me, a stuffed chair, a green AM Motorola radio. And a man at dad's new job gave him a ride to work until dad could afford to borrow funds for a used car. Things got much better as the years went by. But you don't forget those people that gave you a fresh start. Americans who didn't know us b...

GRATITUDE Danube, Melk Austria, October 2015 My thoughts... Gratitude is an open-arms warm embrace that says, “I appreciate you so much.” Gratitude is a child jumping up and down when a grandparent visits. Gratitude is an attitude. Gratitude is a river of life. When we express thanks, we feel good and energetic. Grateful people tend to be more optimistic and empathetic. Gratitude is a relationship builder according to psychological scientist, Robert Emmons of U.C. Davis. Emmons notes two dimensions of gratitude :  1. Gratitude is an affirmation of the good things in life such as benefits and gifts.  2. Gratitude is a perspective on the role others have in adding to our life. For spiritual people, “others” include God. As my wife and I walked along the Danube in Melk, Austria, I felt a sense of gratitude-- thankful for life and family. Gratitude Quotes “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good ...