Exploring the Positive
Emotions of Gratitude, Pride,
and Happiness
Aga Grzeszczak
Mentors: Drs. Leslie Kirby &
Craig Smith
Introduction
Emotion research
Positive emotions
Broaden and Build
Nonspecific action tendencies, thought action
tendencies, broaden perspective, build
resources, undoing effect
Gratitude
Pride
Happiness
Questions for Study
 Specific emotion experience
 Appraisal Questions
 Self versus other responsibility
 Positive and negative aspects
 Emotivational Goals and Behavioral Responses




Competitiveness
Obligation
Creativity
Celebration
 Other Emotions





Guilt
Regret
Frustration
Challenge
Disappointment
Expectations
Broaden and Build
Pride and Happiness versus Gratitude
Appraisals
Gratitude
Other responsibility, higher associations with
negative aspects
Happiness
Other responsibility, high positive aspects
Pride
Self responsibility, high positive aspects
Expectations
 Emotivational Goals and Behavioral Responses
 Gratitude
 Obligation
 Happiness
 Celebration, creativity
 Pride
 Celebration, competitiveness
 Other Emotions
 Gratitude
 Guilt, regret, frustration, disappointment
 Pride
 challenge
Pilot Study
 Open-ended questionnaire
Description of situation
Why did they feel this specific emotion in this
situation?
What did they want to do in this situation?
What did they actually do in this situation?
How, if at all, did this situation end-or how was it
resolved?
 Results
LIWC
Subjective analysis
Linguistic Inquiry Word Count
Results
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Gratitude
Pride
Happiness
SelfOther Positive
Directed Directed Words
Words Words
Method
 63 participants in a three-cell, two-part
between subjects design
 Past experiences questionnaire
Gratitude, pride, happiness
 Dispositional questionnaire
Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Test and
Gratitude Questionnaire-6
Subjective Happiness Scale and Satisfaction with
Life Scale
Dispositional Pride Scale and Trait Pride Scale
Intrinsic/Extrinsic Revised Orientation Scale and
Spiritual Transcendence Scale
Measures
Qualitative ratings
Open ended questions
LIWC
Discrepancy
Self-reports
Emotivational goals, behavioral responses,
appraisals, other associated emotions
ANOVA
Results: Manipulation Checks
9
8
7
Gratitude
Condition
Happiness
Condition
Pride
Condition
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Gratitude
Grouping
Happiness
Grouping
Pride
Grouping
Results: Appraisals: Responsibility
7
6
5
Gratitude
Condition
Happiness
Condition
Pride
Condition
4
3
2
1
0
Self
Responsibility
Other
Responsibility
Results: Appraisals: Positive and
Negative Aspects
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Gratitude
Condition
Happiness
Condition
Pride
Condition
Positive
Aspects
Negative
Aspects
Results: Emotivational Goal and
Behavioral Response for
Competitiveness
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
Gratitude Condition
Happiness Condition
Pride Condition
3
2
Gratitude
Condition
Happiness
Condition
Pride Condition
3
2
1
1
0
0
Wanted to
compete
Actually competed
Results: Other Emotions
4
3.5
3
Gratitude
Condition
Happiness
Condition
Pride
Condition
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Guilt
Resignation
Regret
Frustration
Results: LIWC: Self and OtherDirected Words
14
12
10
Gratitude
Condition
Happiness
Condition
Pride
Condition
8
6
4
2
0
SelfDirected
Words
OtherDirected
Words
Results: LIWC: Occupation and
School-Related
8
7
6
Gratitude
Condition
Happiness
Condition
Pride
Condition
5
4
3
2
1
0
Occupation
School
Conclusions
 Key findings
 Gratitude
 Other-responsibility
 Negative aspects
• Indebtedness, obligation, frustration, guilt,
resignation
 Pride
 Self-responsibility
 Competitiveness
 Happiness
 Positive aspects
 Emotivational goals
• Creativity and openness
 Disposition and Religion
Limitations and Future Directions
Limitations
Generalizability
Self-reports
Zoomerang
Future directions
Experiment
Gender and diversity
Acknowledgements
Thank you:
Dr. Leslie Kirby
Dr. Craig Smith
Smith/Kirby lab group