Social construction of gratitude: combined effect of contextual factors and benefactor-recipient relationships on interpersonal gratitude
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Although gratitude has been extensively studied, the combined effects of multiple determinants on gratitude have not been thoroughly examined, particularly within Chinese cultural contexts. Through four studies ( N = 992), we explored how contextual factors (helping motive attributions and types of help) and benefactor-recipient relationship (horizontal and vertical relationships) inform interpersonal gratitude. The results revealed that recipients experienced more gratitude when help was attributed to autonomous motivation rather than controlled motivation; autonomy-oriented help elicited more gratitude from recipients than dependency-oriented help. Additionally, the benefactor-recipient relationship had a significant impact on the recipients’ experience of gratitude. Importantly, across both horizontal and vertical relationships, the results provided evidence supporting the interactive effects of different types of help and benefactor-recipient relationships on interpersonal gratitude. Our findings highlight the role of how multiple determinants shaped gratitude, which offer a more nuanced perspective on the formation of gratitude in Chinese cultural contexts.
Authors: Jiaci Lin, Keli Yin, Yunpeng Zhang, Yan Qu
Institution: Yunnan Normal University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,690
OpenAlex ID: W4405795000