Recognizing Kindness: Both Character- and Action-Based Gratitude Expressions Promote Recipients’ Willingness to Engage in Subsequent Prosocial Behavior

Poster Session V

Keyword: Giving

Abstract: When expressing gratitude, is it better to mention the helper’s kind actions, kind character, or neither? In one large, pre-registered experiment, action-focused and character-focused gratitude expressions significantly increased future prosocial behavior (vs. control). In another survey, participants stated that they appreciate receiving a character- and action-focused expressions of gratitude equally.

• Kelton Travis (Presenting Author)
• Anurada Amarasekera (Author)
• Kristina Castaneto (Author)
• Tiara Cash (Author)
• Lara Aknin (Author)